Luciferin

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

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