fluorescence
Americannoun
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the emission of radiation, especially of visible light, by a substance during exposure to external radiation, as light or x-rays.
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the property possessed by a substance capable of such emission.
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the radiation so produced.
noun
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physics
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the emission of light or other radiation from atoms or molecules that are bombarded by particles, such as electrons, or by radiation from a separate source. The bombarding radiation produces excited atoms, molecules, or ions and these emit photons as they fall back to the ground state
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such an emission of photons that ceases as soon as the bombarding radiation is discontinued
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such an emission of photons for which the average lifetime of the excited atoms and molecules is less than about 10 –8 seconds
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the radiation emitted as a result of fluorescence Compare phosphorescence
Discover More
“Black light” depends on fluorescence for its effects.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fluorescence
1852; fluor(spar) + -escence, on the model of opalescence ( def. ), in reference to the mineral's newly discovered property
Vocabulary lists containing fluorescence
Earth Science - Middle School
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Rocks and Minerals - Introductory
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Physical Science - Energy - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Moerner received the 2014 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering contributions to super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
Seiler hopes researchers will use X-ray fluorescence to screen more of the surviving Herculaneum collection.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy scans identified the chemical elements that make up the painting, including lead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
It achieved a solid-state fluorescence quantum yield greater than 60%.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026
“Don’t turn the light on—” she said hastily, fearing the harsh, knifing blast of fluorescence.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
