phototransduction

noun

The process whereby the various bodies in the retina convert light into electrical signals

OriginEnglish transduction ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
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Meanings

nounphototransduction (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyThe process whereby the various bodies in the retina convert light into electrical signals

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. Englishtransduction
  9. Englishphototransduction

From photo- + transduction.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

phototransduction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phototransduction

MLA

“phototransduction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phototransduction. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phototransduction,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phototransduction.

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