Meanings
nounphotorespiration (uncountable)
- uncountablebiologyLight-dependent release of carbon dioxide and uptake of oxygen in photosynthetic organisms as an unavoidable side reaction of photosynthesis.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
- Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
- Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
- Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
- Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
- Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
- Englishphoto-
- Englishrespiration
- Englishphotorespiration
From photo- + respiration.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch fotorespiratie
- fotorespiratierelease of CO2 due to light
Korean 광호흡
- 광호흡 (gwanghoheup)release of CO2 due to light
Cite this entry
APA
photorespiration. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photorespiration
MLA
“photorespiration.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photorespiration. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photorespiration,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photorespiration.
Source: photorespiration on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.