Definition of nocturnal Nocturnal

/nɑktɚˈnʌl/ - [nakternul] - noc•tur•nal

We found 11 definitions of nocturnal from 7 different sources.

What does nocturnal mean?

Adjective
nocturnal - belonging to or active during the night; "nocturnal animals are active at night"; "nocturnal plants have flowers that open at night and close by day"
		biological science, biology the science that studies living organisms
nocturnal - of or relating to or occurring in the night; "nocturnal darkness"

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nocturnal (a.)
Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night; as, nocturnal darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; -- opposed to diurnal.
nocturnal (a.)
Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects.
nocturnal (n.)
An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the stars, etc., at sea.

nocturnal
nok-tur′nal, adj. pertaining to night: happening by night: nightly.—n. an instrument for observations in the night.—adv. Noctur′nally

nocturnal
An instrument chiefly used at sea, to take the altitude or depression of some of the stars about the pole, in order to find the latitude and the hour of the night.

Animals that are active during the night are called nocturnal. They hunt or feed during the night, and sleep during the day. Diurnal animals do it the other way around.

Scientists sometimes use the word "crepuscular" to describe nocturnal animals that aren't active when it is very dark at night; they are mostly active near dawn, dusk, and sometimes when the moon makes a lot of light.

Notcturnal animals also have a high sensitivity to their eyes, and when flashed really brightly with lights appear red, orange, amber, or topaz.