thermotaxis

[ thur-muh-tak-sis ]

noun

1. Biology. movement of an organism toward or away from a source of heat.
2. Physiology. the regulation of the bodily temperature.

thermotaxis

/ ˌθɜːməʊˈtæksɪs /

noun

1. the directional movement of an organism in response to the stimulus of a source of heat

Derived Forms

• ˌthermoˈtaxic, adjective

Other Words From

• ther·mo·tac·tic [thur-m, uh, -, tak, -tik], thermo·taxic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thermotaxis¹

First recorded in 1890–95; thermo- + -taxis

Example Sentences

Despite the lack of central coordination of their set of parts, the larvae invariably achieve the goal of moving toward a preferred temperature—a process known as thermotaxis.

From Scientific American