Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence (bī"o*lo`mi*nes"ens) , noun

[Greek bi`os life + luminescence.]

a type of luminescence produced by biological or biochemical processes, such as a glowworm glow or the action of luciferase on luciferin. A well-known example is that of firefly luminescence. See also luciferin.