nastic Hear it!

nastic definition

nas·tic (nastik)

adjective

designating, of, or exhibiting movement or change in position of a plant or its parts, as in the opening and closing of flowers, in response to a stimulus but independent of the direction of the stimulus and caused by unequal growth of certain cells, changes in light intensity, etc.

Etymology: < Gr nastos, pressed close < nassein, to press, squeeze close + -ic

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.