photosynthesis

1. n. synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants) Source: wordnet
2. The process of constructive metabolism by which carbohydrates are formed from water vapor and the carbon dioxide of the air in the chlorophyll-containing tissues of plants exposed to the action of light. It was formerly called assimilation, but this is now commonly used as in animal physiology. The details of the process are not yet clearly known. Baeyer's theory is that the carbon dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide, which, uniting with the hydrogen of the water in the cell, produces formaldehyde, the latter forming various sugars through polymerization. Vines suggests that the carbohydrates are secretion products of the chloroplasts, derived from decomposition of previously formed proteids. The food substances are usually quickly translocated, those that accumulate being changed to starch, which appears in the cells almost simultaneously with the sugars. The chloroplasts perform photosynthesis only in light and within a certain range of temperature, varying according to climate. This is the only way in which a plant is able to organize carbohydrates. All plants without a chlorophyll apparatus, as the fungi, must be parasitic or saprophytic. --Pho`to*syn*thet"ic (#), a. -- Pho`to*syn*thet"ic*al*ly (#), adv. Source: webster
3. The process of constructive metabolism by which carbohydratesare formed from water vapor and the carbon dioxide of the air in thechlorophyll-containing tissues of plants exposed to the action oflight. It was formerly called assimilation, but this is now commonlyused as in animal physiology. The details of the process are not yetclearly known. Baeyer's theory is that the carbon dioxide is reducedto carbon monoxide, which, uniting with the hydrogen of the water inthe cell, produces formaldehyde, the latter forming various sugarsthrough polymerization. Vines suggests that the carbohydrates aresecretion products of the chloroplasts, derived from decomposition ofpreviously formed proteids. The food substances are usually quicklytranslocated, those that accumulate being changed to starch, whichappears in the cells almost simultaneously with the sugars. Thechloroplasts perform photosynthesis only in light and within acertain range of temperature, varying according to climate. This isthe only way in which a plant is able to organize carbohydrates. Allplants without a chlorophyll apparatus, as the fungi, must beparasitic or saprophytic. --Pho`to*syn*thet"ic (#), a. --Pho`to*syn*thet"ic*al*ly (#), adv. Source: adambom
4. n:100 n. synthesis of compounds with the aid of radiant energy (especially in plants) Source: ecdict

Thesaurus links

From the definitions

Explore more