nocturnal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective belonging to or active during the night
    • nocturnal animals are active at night
    • nocturnal plants have flowers that open at night and close by day
  2. adjective of or relating to or occurring in the night
    • nocturnal darkness

WordNet

Noc*tur"nal adjective
Etymology
L. nocturnalis, nocturnus, fr. nox, noctis, night. See Night, and cf. Nocturn.
Definitions
  1. Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night; as, nocturnal darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; -- opposed to diurnal. Dryden.
  2. Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects.
Noc*tur"nal noun
Definitions
  1. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the stars, etc., at sea. I. Watts.

Webster 1913