Photosynthesis
/ˌfoʊtoʊˈsɪnθəsɪs/noun
The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to make food from carbon dioxide and water.
Did you know?The word was coined in the 19th century from Greek roots, and its core idea is almost ritualistic: light + synthesis = a hidden chemical transformation powered by the sun.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
phōs, phōtós
“light”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sýnthesis
“a putting together, composition”
Late 19th Century
English
photosynthesis
“the use of light to build organic compounds in plants”
Modern English
English
photosynthesis
“the process by which organisms convert light energy into chemical energy”
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