photosynthesis
noun
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Photosynthesis Has Greek Roots
The Greek roots of photosynthesis combine to produce the basic meaning "to put together with the help of light". Photosynthesis is what first produced oxygen in the atmosphere billions of years ago, and it's still what keeps it there. Sunlight splits the water molecules (made of hydrogen and oxygen) held in a plant's leaves and releases the oxygen in them into the air. The leftover hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates, which the plant uses as food—as do any animals or humans who might eat the plant.
Examples of photosynthesis in a Sentence
Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Remove cloth once the heat has passed to ensure that plants can resume normal photosynthesis in full sun.
—Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
Tracing the variations of present-day genes places photosynthesis' origin at about 3 billion years ago.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 3 Jan. 2024
Unlike tropical coral reefs, where photosynthesis is important for growth, coral this far down must filter food particles out of the water for energy.
—Christina Larson, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2024
For example, no trees or vegetables would grow without the process of photosynthesis.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
But photosynthesis, which occurs in chloroplasts, produces oxygen, and oxygen destroys nitrogenase.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024
Pinyon-juniper woodlands absorb atmospheric carbon through the process of photosynthesis, and have been widespread for thousands of years in much of Nevada and Utah, as well as portions of California, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming and Baja California.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2024
Pau also notes that even before leaves (and eventually whole trees) die, photosynthesis will slow down as temperatures creep upward.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 23 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'photosynthesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Photosynthesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photosynthesis. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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photosynthesis
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photosynthesis
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