Roots with similar meanings:
- luc- meaning “bright, light”
- lumin- meaning “light”
Roots with opposite meanings:
Roots that could be confused:
Notes: Many of these words are related to photons (particles of light) or to phosphorus (named for its ability to glow in the dark).
Derived English Words
Commonly encountered words are in bold.
photon: A particle representing a quantum of light or electromagnetic radiation.
photoelectric: Relating to the emission of electrons or other carriers when light hits a material.
photoemission: The release of electrons from a material as a result of exposure to light.
photovoltaic: Converting light into electricity using semiconducting materials.
photodiode: A semiconductor device that converts light into electrical current.
photodetector: A device that senses light and converts it into an electrical signal.
photosynthesis: The process by which plants and some organisms convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose.
phototactism: Movement or orientation of an organism in response to light.
photonastic: Movement in plants in response to light intensity, irrespective of the light’s direction.
phototropism: Growth of a plant in response to light
photophile: An organism or substance that thrives in or is attracted to light.
photophobe: An organism or substance that avoids light or is sensitive to it.
photophobia: Extreme sensitivity or aversion to light, often associated with medical conditions affecting the eyes or nervous system.
photalgia: Pain caused by exposure to bright light.
photoreceptor: A specialized cell or structure in organisms that detects light, such as rods and cones in the eye.
photopic: Relating to vision under well-lit conditions, primarily mediated by cone cells in the eye.
photopia: Normal vision under bright light conditions.
photopsin: Light-sensitive proteins in cone cells responsible for color vision.
photosensitive: Having sensitivity to light
photolysis: The chemical decomposition of molecules due to light.
photoactivation: The process by which light activates a substance or reaction.
photoisomerization: A process where light causes a molecule to change its structural configuration.
photostability: The resistance of a substance to chemical change upon exposure to light.
photopolymer: A polymer that changes properties or hardens when exposed to light.
photograph: A picture made using light-sensitive materials or digital sensors.
phosphorus: A chemical element (P) important in energy transfer, such as in ATP, and known for glowing when exposed to oxygen.
phosphorescence: The emission of light by a substance without significant heat, typically continuing after the source of excitation has been removed.
phosphor: A substance that emits light (phosphorescence) after exposure to radiation.
phosphorylation: The process of adding a phosphate group to a molecule, critical in cellular energy transfer.
Other Uses
phossy jaw: A historical condition caused by exposure to white phosphorus, leading to jawbone decay.
photoelectric effect: The phenomenon in which electrons are emitted from a material when it absorbs light or other electromagnetic radiation.
photomultiplier tube: A highly sensitive electronic device that detects and amplifies light signals, commonly used in scientific and medical instruments.
Links
List of Greek and Latin roots in English – Wikipedia
Other Roots Used in These Words
| Root | Meaning |
|---|---|
| act- | do, go, move |
| alg- | pain |
| -cept- | hold, take |
| di- | two |
| graph- | draw, write |
| is-, iso- | equal, same |
| ly-, lysi-, lyt- | dissolving |
| mer- | part |
| mit-, miss- | send |
| nasc-, nat- | born |
| ops-, opt- | eye |
| phil-, -phile | love, friendship |
| phob- | fear |
| pher-, phor- | bear, carry |
| poly- | many |
| senti-, sens- | feel |
| sta- | to stand, make or be firm |
| syn- | with |
| tang-, -ting-, tact-, tag- | touch |
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