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diurnal. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
diurnal, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
diurnal in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
diurnal you have here. The definition of the word
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diurnal, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Latin diurnālis, from diēs (“day”). Doublet of journal.
Pronunciation
Adjective
diurnal (comparative more diurnal, superlative most diurnal)
- Happening or occurring during daylight, or primarily active during that time.
- Most birds are diurnal.
1972, Laurence Monroe Klauber, Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind, Volume 1:However, in general, lizards are more diurnal than rattlers, which may be one of the reasons why young rattlers are more diurnal than adults.
c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring / Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring.
- (botany) Said of a flower open, or releasing its perfume during daylight hours, but not at night.
- Having a daily cycle that is completed every 24 hours, usually referring to tasks, processes, tides, or sunrise to sunset; circadian.
- (uncommon) Done once every day; daily, quotidian.
- (archaic) Published daily.
Quotations
Synonyms
Antonyms
- (antonym(s) of “happening or active during the day”): nocturnal, nightly
- (antonym(s) of “active or open during the day”): nocturnal
Coordinate terms
- (active or open during the day): crepuscular (active during twilight; dawn or dusk)
- (active or open during the day): matutinal (active during dawn)
- (active or open during the day): vespertine (active during dusk)
- (active or open during the day): diel (having a 24-hour period, regardless of day or night)
Derived terms
Translations
happening during daylight; primarily active during the day
botany; of flowers open or releasing perfume during the day
Translations to be checked
- Swedish: (as 24-hr period, including nighttime) (please verify) dygn (sv)
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Noun
diurnal (plural diurnals)
- A flower that opens only in the day.
- (Catholicism) A book containing canonical offices performed during the day, hence not matins.
- (archaic) A diary or journal.
1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, part 1, canto 2:He was by birth, some authors write, / A Russian, some a Muscovite, / And 'mong the Cossacks had been bred, / Of whom we in diurnals read.
- (archaic) A daily news publication.
Translations
flower that opens during the day
book of canonical offices
French
Noun
diurnal m (plural diurnaux)
- diurnal (book)
Further reading
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French diurnal or Latin diurnalis. By surface analysis, diurn + -al. Doublet of jurnal.
Adjective
diurnal m or n (feminine singular diurnală, masculine plural diurnali, feminine and neuter plural diurnale)
- diurnal
Declension
Noun
diurnal n (plural diurnale)
- diurnal
Declension