Standard Lemma guide

photoreceptor

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A specialized neuron or other structure able to detect and react to light.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bheh2- Proto-Indo-European *bhéh2os Proto-Hellenic *pháwos Ancient Greek φᾰ́ος (phắos) Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs) Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-)der. English photo- English receptor English photoreceptor From photo- + receptor.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: fotoreceptor — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light
  • Finnish: fotoreseptori — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light
  • French: photorécepteur — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light
  • German: Photorezeptor — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light
  • Irish: fótaghabhdóir — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light
  • Italian: fotorecettore — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light
  • Northern Kurdish: ronahîwergir — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light
  • Portuguese: fotorrecetor — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light
  • Spanish: fotorreceptor — biology: a specialized neuron able to detect and react to light