DIURNAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does diurnal mean? 

• DIURNAL (adjective)
  The adjective DIURNAL has 2 senses:

1. of or belonging to or active during the day

2. having a daily cycle or occurring every day

  Familiarity information: DIURNAL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DIURNAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or belonging to or active during the day

Context example:

diurnal and nocturnal offices

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Antonym:

nocturnal (belonging to or active during the night)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having a daily cycle or occurring every day

Context example:

diurnal rotation of the heavens

Similar:

periodic; periodical (happening or recurring at regular intervals)

 Context examples 

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) Depressed mood; loss of interest, lack of pleasure in hobbies, depression, early waking, diurnal swing.

(HAMA - Depressed Mood, NCI Thesaurus)

Because these tiny frogs are brightly colored, diurnal and known to use visual signals, the researchers hypothesize that visual communication has replaced acoustic communication.

(Tiny Brazilian Frogs Deaf to Own Calls, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A medium-sized diurnal primate that is omnivorous, Chlorocebus sabaeus has a life span of 10 years in the wild and 25 years in captivity.

(African Green Monkey, NCI Thesaurus)

There was an astronomer, who had undertaken to place a sun-dial upon the great weathercock on the town-house, by adjusting the annual and diurnal motions of the earth and sun, so as to answer and coincide with all accidental turnings of the wind.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)