apheliotropism
|a-phe-li-o-tro-pism|
🇺🇸
/ˌæfɪliəˈtroʊpɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌæfɪliəˈtrəʊpɪzəm/
turning away from the sun
Etymology
'apheliotropism' originates from Greek elements: 'aphélion' (from 'apo-' meaning 'away' + 'hḗlios' meaning 'sun') and '-tropism' from Greek 'tropos' meaning 'turning'.
'apheliotropism' was formed in scientific/Neo-Latin usage from the Greek components 'aphélion' + 'tropismos' and entered botanical and physiological English literature in the 19th and 20th centuries as the technical term for turning away from the sun.
Initially it meant 'turning away from the sun', and this specific technical meaning has largely remained stable in scientific usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the growth or movement of an organism, especially a plant, away from the sun; a negative heliotropic response.
Some desert plants display apheliotropism to reduce water loss by avoiding direct midday sun.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/16 03:34