Thigmotaxis

1 definition found

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

  Thigmotaxis \Thig`mo*tax"is\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? touch + ? an
     arranging.] (Physiol.)
     The property possessed by living protoplasm of contracting,
     and thus moving, when touched by a solid or fluid substance.
  
     Note: When the movement is away from the touching body, it is


           {negative thigmotaxis}; when towards it, {positive
           thigmotaxis}.
           [Webster 1913 Suppl.]