Nocturnal

Quick meaning: Nocturnal is an adjective meaning (of a person, creature, group, or species) Primarily active during the night.

Meaning

(of a person, creature, group, or species) Primarily active during the night.

More Meanings

1. (of an occurrence) Taking place at night, nightly.
2. A person or creature that is active at night.
3. (historical) A device for telling the time at night, rather like a sundial but read according to the stars.

Example Sentences

nocturnal birds

a suspicious nocturnal outing

A rather different instrument was the nocturnal: it enabled you to tell the time at night, provided you knew the date, from the position of the stars in the constellation of the Great Bear, which rotate around the Pole Star.

Many of these classic methods are still used, with some modern improvements. For example, with the aid of special microphones and automated sound detection software, ornithologists recently reported […] that pine siskins (Spinus pinus) undergo an irregular, nomadic type of nocturnal migration.

Word Forms

• nocturnall
• nocturnals

Synonyms for nocturnal

Depending on context, synonyms include lucifugous, nightish, nightly, nighttime.

Antonyms for nocturnal

Common opposites include diurnal, nonnocturnal.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include nighttime, nightly, nocturne, overnight, late-night, night-time.

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