photoreception

pho·to·re·cept·ion
P3H4O1T1O1R1E1C3E1P3T1I1O1N1
UK/ˌfəʊtə(ʊ)ɹɪˈsɛpʃn̩/US/ˌfoʊtəɹəˈsɛpʃ(ə)n/US[-ɾə-]

noun

The absorption of light energy by plants and animals, and its utilization for biologically important purposes

OriginEnglish reception ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
Scrabble 23
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Meanings

nounphotoreception (usually uncountable, plural photoreceptions)

plural photoreceptions

  1. uncountableusuallybiologyThe absorption of light energy by plants and animals, and its utilization for biologically important purposes

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Englishreception
  9. Englishphotoreception

From photo- + reception.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with photoreception

perceptioninceptionmisperceptionchronoceptionphonoreceptionthermoreception
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

photoreception. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoreception

MLA

“photoreception.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoreception. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photoreception,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photoreception.

Source: photoreception on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.