Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
luminescence produced by physiological processes (as in the firefly);
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Luminescence \Lu`mi*nes"cence\, n. [See Luminescent.]
1. (Physics) Any emission of light not ascribable directly to
incandescence, and therefore occurring at low
temperatures, as in phosphorescence and fluorescence or
other luminous radiation resulting from vital processes,
chemical action, friction, solution, or the influence of
light or of ultraviolet or cathode rays, etc.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
2. (Zool.)
(a) The faculty or power of producing light by biological
processes, as in the firefly and glowworm. Also called
bioluminescence.
(b) The light produced by biological or biochemical
processes. Also called bioluminescence.
[Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bioluminescence \Bi"o*lu`mi*nes"cence\
(b[imac]"[-o]*l[=oo]`m[i^]*n[e^]s"ens), n. [Gr. bi`os life +
luminescence.]
a type of luminescence produced by biological or
biochemical processes, such as a glowworm glow or the action
of luciferase on luciferin. A well-known example is that of
firefly luminescence. See also luciferin.
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
bioluminescence
n 1: luminescence produced by physiological processes (as in the
firefly)