photosynthesis
noun
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Photosynthesis Has Greek Roots
The Greek roots of photosynthesis combine to produce the basic meaning "to put together with the help of light". Photosynthesis is what first produced oxygen in the atmosphere billions of years ago, and it's still what keeps it there. Sunlight splits the water molecules (made of hydrogen and oxygen) held in a plant's leaves and releases the oxygen in them into the air. The leftover hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates, which the plant uses as food—as do any animals or humans who might eat the plant.
Examples of photosynthesis in a Sentence
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Don’t close your shades all the way Remember your third-grade science class on photosynthesis?
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
Thanks to a multitude of occurrences, like whiffs and mass extinction events, microorganisms capable of performing photosynthesis had the necessary atmosphere to grow rapidly and increase their oxygen output.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
This process melts areas of ice, incorporates oxygen into the water and allows more light to penetrate, promoting photosynthesis and further oxygen production.
—Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for photosynthesis
Cite this Entry
“Photosynthesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photosynthesis. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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photosynthesis
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photosynthesis
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