| 释义 |
‖ noctiluca|nɒktɪˈluːkə|
Pl. -lucæ |-luːsiː|.
[ad. L. noctilūca moon, lantern, f. nocti-, nox night + lūcēre to shine. Cf. F. noctiluque.]
†1. A species of phosphorus. Obs.
1680Boyle Aerial Noctiluca 5 This [phosphorus] by some Learned Men has been call'd, to discriminate it from the former, a Noctiluca. 1681–2― New Exp. Icy Noctiluca 19 Our Icy Noctiluca or Phosphorus is manifestly heavier in Specie than common Water. 1706Phillips, Noctiluca, a certain Substance, chymically perpared, such as will shine of it self in the dark. 1727–38in Chambers Cycl.
2. Zool. A marine animalcule, of a nearly spherical shape, which produces a phosphorescent appearance in the sea.
1855Orr's Circ. Sci., Org. Nat. II. 227 In some localities the Noctiluca..also plays an important part in the production of this phenomenon. 1865Pop. Sci. Rev. 179 The Noctiluca, which causes the sea waves to sparkle with phosphoric light. 1883Harper's Mag. Jan. 182/2 A gobletful of the noctilucæ produces light sufficient to read by at a distance of two feet.
Hence † noctiˈlucal a., phosphorescent. noctiˈlucan, an animalcule of the genus Noctiluca (Cassell 1886). noctiˈlucence, marine phosphorescence due to noctilucæ (Stand. Dict. 1895). noctiˈlucin(e [F. noctilucine], the light-giving substance in phosphorescent animalcules.
1681–2Boyle New Exp. Icy Noctiluca 46 A conjecture I had made about the great diffusedness of the Noctilucal Matter. 1880Libr. Univ. Knowl. X. 659 Noctilucine has a syrupy consistence at ordinary temperatures. |