phototaxis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare/TechnicalAcademic/Scientific/Technical
Quick answer
What does “phototaxis” mean?
The movement of an organism in response to light, either toward or away from it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The movement of an organism in response to light, either toward or away from it.
Can refer more generally to any directional movement, biological or metaphorical, influenced by light as a stimulus.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or meaning; both use the same scientific term.
Connotations
Purely scientific, no cultural connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to biology/zoology texts.
Grammar
How to Use “phototaxis” in a Sentence
The [organism] exhibits phototaxis.Positive phototaxis was observed in the [sample].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “phototaxis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The larvae phototaxise towards the ultraviolet spectrum.
American English
- The microorganisms phototaxize in response to blue light.
adjective
British English
- The phototactic behaviour was recorded over 24 hours.
American English
- We studied the phototactic response of the insect larvae.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biology, zoology, botany, and microbiology papers to describe organism behavior.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in certain life sciences and robotics (e.g., designing light-seeking robots).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “phototaxis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “phototaxis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “phototaxis”
- Misspelling as 'phototaxy' or 'phototaxsis'.
- Using it to describe plant growth (that's phototropism).
- Pronouncing it as /fɒtəˈtæksɪs/ (confusing with 'photo' as in 'photograph' common pronunciation).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Phototaxis refers to the movement of a whole organism (e.g., swimming, flying) toward or away from light. Phototropism refers to the growth or turning of a part of a plant (e.g., a stem) toward light.
Yes, in robotics and engineering, simple machines or robots can be designed with light sensors to move toward a light source, mimicking biological phototaxis.
Moths being attracted to a light at night is a classic, though not perfectly scientific, everyday example. In labs, Euglena (a single-celled organism) moving toward light is a standard example.
Almost never. It is a highly specialized scientific term. Its use in everyday conversation would be very unusual and require explanation.
The movement of an organism in response to light, either toward or away from it.
Phototaxis is usually academic/scientific/technical in register.
Phototaxis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfəʊ.təʊˈtæk.sɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfoʊ.toʊˈtæk.sɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PHOTO' (light) + 'TAXI' (like a cab moving toward something). An organism 'takes a taxi' toward or away from light.
Conceptual Metaphor
Light as a guide or repellent; organisms are 'drawn to' or 'repelled by' light as if by a magnetic force.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'negative phototaxis' describe?