nocturnal

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

  1. belonging to or active during the night“nocturnal animals are active at night”“nocturnal plants have flowers that open at night and close by day”
  2. of or relating to or occurring in the night“nocturnal darkness”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Nocturnal \Noc*tur"nal\, a. [L. nocturnalis, nocturnus, fr. nox, noctis, night. See Night, and cf. Nocturn.]

1.Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night; as, nocturnal darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; -- opposed to diurnal. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2.Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects; raccoons are nocturnal.; -- of animals. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Nocturnal \Noc*tur"nal\, n. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the stars, etc., at sea. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
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