fluorescent

American  

[floo-res-uhnt, flaw-, floh-] / flʊˈrɛs ənt, flɔ-, floʊ- /

adjective

1. possessing the property of fluorescence; exhibiting fluorescence.

2. strikingly bright, vivid, or glowing.

   plastic toys in fluorescent colors.

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noun

1. a lighting fixture that utilizes a fluorescent lamp.

Other Word Forms

• nonfluorescent adjective
• unfluorescent adjective

Etymology

Origin of fluorescent

First recorded in 1850–55; fluor- + -escent

Example Sentences

Imagine this: The cheerful, if slightly scolding voices of the self-checkout machines punctuate the steady hum of fluorescent lights.

From Salon

It feels faintly pastoral — hunting and gathering — translated into an urban evening, conducted in sneakers and leggings under fluorescent lights.

From Salon

And the Met’s overproduced installation—comprising dark, black halls and bright, white fluorescent tubes—mimics and competes with the artworks themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal

Under the glow of fluorescent lights at Seafood City market in North Hills, packages of pre-made adobo, salted shrimp fry and and dried anchovies glisten in meat coolers.

From Los Angeles Times

Over time, that illumination can also alter the fluorescent molecules themselves so they no longer emit enough light, a problem known as photobleaching that limits how long experiments can run.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• bright
• luminous
• rich
• shiny
• sunny