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noctiluca

(näk′tə lo̵̅o̅′kə)

noun

any of a genus (Noctiluca) of large, spherical, reddish, luminescent dinoflagellates that often occur in vast numbers in the sea, causing the water to glow at night

Origin: ModL < L, something that shines at night < nox (gen. noctis), night + lucere, to shine < lux, light

See noctiluca in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various bioluminescent dinoflagellates of the genus Noctiluca that when grouped in large numbers make the sea phosphorescent.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin Noctilūca, genus name

Origin: , from Latin noctilūca, lantern, moon

Origin: : nocti-, nocti-

Origin: + lūcēre, to shine; see leuk- in Indo-European roots

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