noctilucent

[ nok-tuh-loo-suh nt ]
/ ˌnɒk təˈlu sənt /

adjective Meteorology.

(of high-altitude clouds) visible during the short night of the summer.

Origin of noctilucent

First recorded in 1885–90; nocti- + lucent

OTHER WORDS FROM noctilucent

noc·ti·lu·cence, noun

Words nearby noctilucent

noct. maneq., noctambulism, noctambulous, nocti-, noctiluca, noctilucent, noctis, noctograph, noctuid, noctule, nocturia

British Dictionary definitions for noctilucence

noctilucent
/ (ˌnɒktɪˈluːsənt) /

adjective

shining at night, usu. of very thin high altitude clouds observable in the summer twilight sky

Derived forms of noctilucent

noctilucence, noun

Scientific definitions for noctilucence

noctilucent
[ nŏk′tə-lōō′sənt ]

Luminous at night. The term is used especially to describe certain high atmospheric cloud formations visible during summer nights at high latitudes.