counterillumination en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Proto-Indo-European *-teros Proto-Italic *-teros Proto-Italic *komterosder. Proto-Italic *komterād Latin contrāder. Old French contre- Anglo-Norman countre-bor. Middle English counter- English counter- English illumination English counterillumination From counter- + illumination.
Meanings
- (uncountable) A behaviour, found in some cephalopods etc., in which bioluminescence is used to provide camouflage when viewed from below.