phototaxis

P3H4O1T1O1T1A1X8I1S1

noun

The movement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light

Similar
phototaxy
Opposite
scototaxis
OriginEnglish taxis ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
Scrabble 22
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Meanings

nounphototaxis (usually uncountable, plural phototaxes)

plural phototaxes

  1. uncountableusuallybiologyThe movement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light

    Synonyms: phototaxy

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe movement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light

Similar
phototaxy
Opposite
scototaxis
Also see
photomovement

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. Englishtaxis
  9. Englishphototaxis

From photo- + taxis.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan fototaxi
  • fototaximovement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
Finnish fototaksia
  • fototaksiamovement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
French phototaxie
  • phototaxiemovement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
German Phototaxis
  • Phototaxismovement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
Polish fototaksja
  • fototaksjamovement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
Romanian fototaxie
  • fototaxiemovement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
Russian фотота́ксис
  • фотота́ксис (fototáksis)movement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
Spanish fototaxis
  • fototaxismovement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
Tagalog sugbiling
  • sugbilingmovement of an organism either towards or away from a source of light
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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