Photoreceptor - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A photoreceptor is a specialized cell in the eyes that detects light and converts it into electrical signals, enabling vision. Rods and cones are the two main types of photoreceptors.
Definition:
A cell or structure that detects light, such as rods and cones in the retina.
Synonyms:
light-sensitive cell, photosensor, visual receptor
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
non-receptor, blind spot
Common Collocations:
retinal photoreceptors, photoreceptor cells, photoreceptor function
Derivatives:
photoreceptive, photoreception
Usage Tips:
Use "photoreceptor" when discussing biology or vision; it refers specifically to light-detecting cells.
Common Phrases:
photoreceptor cells in the retina, damage to photoreceptors, activation of photoreceptors
Etymology:
From Greek "phōs" (light) and Latin "receptor" (receiver), meaning a receiver of light.
Examples:
- 1. The retina contains millions of photoreceptors for vision.
- 2. Rods and cones are two types of photoreceptors in the eye.
- 3. Without photoreceptors, we couldn’t see light or colors.
- 4. Scientists study how photoreceptors transmit signals to the brain.