diurnal
1 of 2adjective
di·ur·nal dī-ˈər-nᵊl 
1
a
biology : active chiefly in the daytime
diurnal animals
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the daytime
the city's diurnal noises
c
botany : opening during the day and closing at night
diurnal flowers
2
a
: recurring every day
diurnal tasks
b
: having a daily cycle
diurnal tides
diurnally
dī-ˈər-nᵊl-ē
adverb diurnal
2 of 2noun
1
: journal sense 1a
2
archaic : diary, daybook
Synonyms
Adjective
- daily
- day-to-day
- quotidian
Noun
- book
- bulletin
- gazette
- journal
- mag
- magazine
- newspaper
- organ
- paper
- periodical
- rag
- review
- serial
- zine
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective a love as constant and certain as the diurnal tides Noun a collection of diurnals containing essays by preeminent 19th-century American writers and thinkers
Recent Examples on the Web
Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2022 This diurnal temperature shift allows excellent concentration of sugars while at the same time maintaining acidity . Mike Desimone And Jeff Jenssen, Forbes, 11 July 2022 For instance, ungulates, such as bison, and coyotes are generally crepuscular, or most active at dusk and dawn, whereas alligators are diurnal and nocturnal. Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 22 June 2022 Given the diurnal minimum of heating early in the day, any storms will struggle against that. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 15 June 2022 Numerous diverse mesoclimates and soils give vineyards distinct personalities, but in general, summers are warm and dry, with cool evenings and a diurnal temperature range that helps preserve acidity and freshness in the grapes. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 27 May 2022 Scientists saw that the eye size and shape were similar to those of modern diurnal owls. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2022 In the Dundee study, researchers found that this diurnal decrease is absent, or at least relatively absent, in a deprived population who do not have regular access to and use of green spaces in their urban environment. Shane O'mara, Outside Online, 13 May 2020 But a few owls are diurnal—or active during the day. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2022 See More
Adjective
The trailer opens with clips of Alice (Pugh) and Jack (Styles) approaching their new life with optimism, happy with the diurnal chores and picture-perfect lifestyle provided by Jack’s experimental company town housing, Victory Project. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2022 This diurnal temperature shift allows excellent concentration of sugars while at the same time maintaining acidity . Mike Desimone And Jeff Jenssen, Forbes, 11 July 2022 For instance, ungulates, such as bison, and coyotes are generally crepuscular, or most active at dusk and dawn, whereas alligators are diurnal and nocturnal. Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 22 June 2022 Given the diurnal minimum of heating early in the day, any storms will struggle against that. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 15 June 2022 Numerous diverse mesoclimates and soils give vineyards distinct personalities, but in general, summers are warm and dry, with cool evenings and a diurnal temperature range that helps preserve acidity and freshness in the grapes. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 27 May 2022 Scientists saw that the eye size and shape were similar to those of modern diurnal owls. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2022 In the Dundee study, researchers found that this diurnal decrease is absent, or at least relatively absent, in a deprived population who do not have regular access to and use of green spaces in their urban environment. Shane O'mara, Outside Online, 13 May 2020 But a few owls are diurnal—or active during the day. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Latin diurnalis — more at journal
Noun
derivative of diurnal entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Noun
1600, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Medical Definition
diurnal
adjective
di·ur·nal dī-ˈərn-ᵊl
1
: having a daily cycle
diurnal rhythms
2
a
: of, relating to, or occurring in the daytime
diurnal activity
b
: chiefly active during the daytime
diurnal mosquitoes
diurnal 1 of 2
adjective
as in daily
occurring, done, produced, or appearing every day a love as constant and certain as the diurnal tides Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- daily
- continuous
- recurrent
- quotidian
- periodic
- day-to-day
- cyclic
- recurring
- continual
- intermittent
- cyclical
- regular
- perpetual
- frequent
- continued
- incessant
- continuing
- nonstop
- unceasing
- alternate
- uninterrupted
- unremitting
- everlasting
- ceaseless
- unbroken
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- monthly
- weekly
- yearly
- irregular
- infrequent
- occasional
- erratic
- sporadic
- spasmodic
- spastic
- interrupted
diurnal
2 of 2noun
as in periodical
a publication that appears at regular intervals a collection of diurnals containing essays by preeminent 19th-century American writers and thinkers Synonyms & Similar Words
- periodical
- newspaper
- journal
- book
- organ
- serial
- magazine
- daily
- gazette
- bulletin
- annual
- monthly
- weekly
- paper
- mag
- quarterly
- rag
- bimonthly
- zine
- newsletter
- review
- edition
- yearbook
- biweekly
- semimonthly
- semiweekly
- sheet
- tabloid
- pictorial
- digest
- triweekly
- little magazine
- supplement
- fanzine
- tab
- extra
- newsmagazine
- broadside
- newsweekly
- slick