diurnal
di·ur·nal BrE [daɪˈɜːnl] NAmE [daɪˈɜːrnl] adjective
1. (biology) (of animals)active during the day
•Unlike most other bats, this species is diurnal.
Opp: ↑nocturnal
2. (astronomy)taking one day
•the diurnal rotation of the earth
Word Origin:
[diurnal] late Middle English (as a term in astronomy): from late Latin diurnalis, from Latin diurnus ‘daily’, from dies ‘day’.
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