[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/nocturnal/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [N](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/n/) / nocturnal

# nocturnal

adjective (nocturnal; nocturnally adv.)

«nocturnal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (science) Nocturnal animals are active at night and sleep during the day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#m1)
2. Happening at night: a nocturnal walk, nocturnal noises. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons: nocturnal animals like owls, bats, hedgehogs, foxes, badgers and possums have special senses for the dark. Opposite: diurnal (active in the day). In stories: nocturnal adventures.

### Examples

- Owls are nocturnal birds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#x1)
- Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so you see them at night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#x2)
- Bats use sound to find food on their nocturnal flights. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#x3)
- Possums in Australia are nocturnal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#x4)
- Our hamster is nocturnal and runs on its wheel all night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#x5)
- We went on a nocturnal walk to see the stars. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#x6)
- Many desert animals are nocturnal to avoid the heat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/#x7)

### Note

Opposite: diurnal (active by day); crepuscular means active at dawn and dusk. From Latin «nox» (night). Trap: not all animals that come out at night are fully nocturnal.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «nocturnal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nocturnal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«nocturnal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nocturnal.html) on Mova free.