noctiluca
nounUK /ˌnɒk.tɪˈluː.kə/ · US /ˌnɑk.tɪˈlu.kə/
Etymology From Latin noctilūca.
1
Obsolete A firefly, glowworm.
- If a number of noctilucas are punctured with a needle, causing the cells to collapse, and are then subjected to an interrupted current, they respond just as uninjured cells do.1917, Papers from the Department of Marine Biology of the Carnegie Institution of Washington:
2
Obsolete The moon
3
Obsolete A phosphorescent substance
4
Noctiluca scintillans (sea sparkle).
- Derived terms
- icy noctiluca, noctilucal, noctilucan