photoreceptor

[ foh-toh-ri-sep-ter ]

noun

, Physiology, Biology.

1. a receptor stimulated by light.

photoreceptor

/ ˌfəʊtəʊrɪˈsɛptə /

noun

1. zoology physiol a light-sensitive cell or organ that conveys impulses through the sensory neuron connected to it

photoreceptor

/ fō′tō-rĭ-sĕp′tər /

1. A specialized structure or cell that is sensitive to light. In vertebrate animals, the photoreceptors are the rods and cones of the eye's retina.
2. See Note at circadian rhythm
3. An electronic device that converts light energy into electrical signals. Photoreceptors are used in photocopy and facsimile machines, cameras, and solar cells.

Word History and Origins

Origin of photoreceptor¹

First recorded in 1905–10; photo- + receptor

Example Sentences

The key lies in the rod-shaped photoreceptors that principally govern peripheral vision and the cone-shaped receptors that give us our central view of the world.

From Time

Those photoreceptor cells pass information to the brain via bipolar cells and ganglion cells.

From Science News

When they detect certain wavelengths of visible light, the photoreceptors trigger electrical signals.

From Science News For Students

These nanowires act as the artificial equivalent of photoreceptors.

From Singularity Hub 

Response and recovery times in human photoreceptors range from 40 to 150 milliseconds.

From Singularity Hub