phototaxis
|pho-to-tax-is|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˌfoʊtoʊˈtæksɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˌfəʊtəʊˈtæksɪs/
movement towards light
Etymology
Etymology Information
'phototaxis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'phōs' meaning 'light' and 'taxis' meaning 'arrangement' or 'order'.
Historical Evolution
'phōs' and 'taxis' combined in Greek to form 'phototaxis', which was adopted into modern English with the same meaning.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'movement in response to light', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the movement of an organism or cell toward or away from a source of light.
The phototaxis of certain algae allows them to move towards light for photosynthesis.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/29 12:59