Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈfaɪ.əˌflaɪ/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ˈfaɪ.ɚˌflaɪ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
Noun
Any beetle of the family Lampyridae, which exhibit bioluminescence during twilight.
Usage- Florida
- Northern-US
- US usage
- Western
- Related words
- Examples
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More examples (1)
2000, Exploring Life Science, 2: Bats—Cave Life, Marshall Cavendish, page 96, Fireflies are the best-known insects that produce light. […] Many fireflies use their light to communicate, particularly at mating time when males and females have to get together.
The luciferins are different in different species and today both the luciferin and luciferase in the firefly are available in the crystalline form.
More examples (1)
Various other luciferase genes, especially the firefly luciferase gene, are also used for the study of gene regulation.[…]The classic use of bioluminescence, however, is the use of a luciferin-luciferase mixture from fireflies as an assay for ATP.
Noun
tropical American click beetle having bright luminous spots
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
nocturnal beetle common in warm regions having luminescent abdominal organs
- Synonyms
- Broader terms