luminescence

American  

[loo-muh-nes-uhns] / ˌlu məˈnɛs əns /

noun

1. the emission of light not caused by incandescence and occurring at a temperature below that of incandescent bodies.

2. the light produced by such an emission.

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luminescence British  

/ ˌluːmɪˈnɛsəns /

noun

1. physics

   1. the emission of light at low temperatures by any process other than incandescence, such as phosphorescence or chemiluminescence

   2. the light emitted by such a process

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luminescence Scientific  

/ lo̅o̅′mə-nĕs′əns /

1. The emission of light as a result of the excitation of atoms by energy other than heat. Bioluminescence, fluorescence, and phosphorescence are examples of luminescence that can be produced by biological or chemical processes.

2. The light produced in this way.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonluminescence
  noun
• luminescent
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of luminescence

First recorded in 1885–90; from Latin lūmin- ( see lumen) + -escence

Explanation

When some object gives off light, that light is called luminescence. The luminescence of a lighthouse helps keep boats safe on foggy nights. Glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to your bedroom ceiling have a luminescence you can see when you turn out the light at night, and lightning bugs blink on and off with luminescence in the summertime. Luminescence, scientifically speaking, describes a glow or light that's emitted at a cool temperature, rather than one caused by a fire, for example. The Latin root is lumen, or "light."

Example Sentences

To determine the age of the site, scientists used multiple dating techniques, including Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Electron-Spin Resonance.

From Science Daily • May 20, 2026

Luminescence resulting from thermal excitation can be used to observe high-energy states, but this current measurement method broadens spectral lines and blurs ultra-fine splitting.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2024

Luminescence dating normally relies on quartz, but for this study the researchers turned to feldspar, which can absorb much more radioactivity than quartz.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 20, 2023

Luminescence dating measures the time elapsed since some silicate minerals, such as coarse-sediments of silicate minerals, were last exposed to light or heat at the surface of Earth.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Luminescence: applied to the light of fire-flies, as a substitute for phosphorescence.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.