phosphor

¹ American  

[fos-fer, -fawr] / ˈfɒs fər, -fɔr /

noun

1. any of a number of substances that exhibit luminescence when struck by light of certain wavelengths, as by ultraviolet.

2. Literary. a phosphorescent substance.

---

adjective

1. Archaic. phosphorescent.

Phosphor ² American  

[fos-fer, -fawr] / ˈfɒs fər, -fɔr /

Also Phosphore

noun

1. the morning star, especially Venus.

---

phosphor- ³ American  

1. variant of phosphoro- before a vowel.

   phosphorate.

---

phosphor British  

/ ˈfɒsfə /

noun

1. a substance, such as the coating on a cathode-ray tube, capable of emitting light when irradiated with particles or electromagnetic radiation

---

phosphor Scientific  

/ fŏs′fər /

1. Any of various substances that can emit light after absorbing some form of radiation. Television screens and fluorescent lamp tubes are coated on the inside with phosphors.

2. See Note at cathode-ray tube

---

Etymology

Origin of phosphor¹

1625–35; < French phosphore < Latin Phōsphorus Phosphor

Origin of Phosphor²

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin Phōsphorus, from Greek Phōsphóros “the morning star,” literally, “the light-bringing one,” equivalent to phôs “light” + -phoros “bringing”; -phorous

Example Sentences

Today, the most efficient white LEDs use blue light emitting diodes with a rare-earth phosphor coating that converts the blue light into yellow, green and/or red which enables white lighting.

From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2024

First, it’s possible that losing the phosphor layer dims the lamps’ brightness—and streetlights are supposed to emit a certain level of light depending on the type of the road that they’re used on.

From Scientific American • Sep. 27, 2023

A byproduct of private and industrial food consumption and processing, sludge and compost can replace some of the nitrogen and phosphor from synthetic fertilizers.

From Salon • Sep. 29, 2022

For example, he says, CMI developed a red phosphor for fluorescent lighting that does not require rare europium.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 11, 2021

He tugged on his last set of clothes, grabbed the phosphor grease, found the silver earring and the luck bag of rice that he’d been given.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi