luciferin

2 definitions found

luciferin - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Luciferin \Lu*cif"er*in\ (l[=oo]*s[i^]f"[~e]r*[i^]n), n.
     (Biochem.)
     any of several substances found in luminescent organisms
     (such as the firefly, Photinus pyralis) which, when
     oxidized, produces an almost heatless light. It was first
     isolated from fireflies, and is the source of the firefly
     luminescence. See also firefly luciferin
     [PJC]

luciferin - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  luciferin
      n 1: pigment occurring in luminescent organisms (as fireflies);
           emits heatless light when undergoing oxidation