pho·to·syn·the·sis
n, pl -the*ses : synthesis of chemical compounds with the aid of light sometimes including the near infrared or near ultraviolet : esp : the formation of carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and a source of hydrogen (as water) in chlorophyll-containing cells (as of green plants) exposed to light involving a photochemical release of oxygen through the decomposition of water followed by various enzymatic synthetic reactions that usu. do not require the presence of light pho*to*syn*the*size also Brit pho*to*syn*the*sise vi -sized also Brit -sised -siz*ing also Brit -sis*ing pho*to*syn*thet*ic adj pho*to*syn*thet*i*cal*ly adv
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