Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
Any of a class of polycyclic heterocycles that are responsible for the bioluminescence of fireflies, being converted to oxyluciferin by luciferase in the process.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
pigment occurring in luminescent organisms (as fireflies); emits heatless light when undergoing oxidation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: animal pigment
History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewk- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *léwks Proto-Italic *louks Latin lūx Proto-Indo-European *bher- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *bhorós Proto-Italic *-foros Latin -fer Latin lūcifer Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Italic *-īnos Latin -īnusder. Old French -inbor. Middle English -in English -ineclip. English -in English luciferin From Latin lūcifer (“light bringer”) + English -in.
Across languages
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.
