luminesce

American  

[loo-muh-nes] / ˌlu məˈnɛs /

verb (used without object)

luminesced, luminescing

1. to exhibit luminescence.

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luminesce British  

/ ˌluːmɪˈnɛs /

verb

1. (intr) to exhibit luminescence

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Etymology

Origin of luminesce

First recorded in 1895–1900; back formation from luminescent ( def. )

Explanation

To luminesce is to shine or glow with light. Some types of jellyfish have the uncanny ability to luminesce underwater. Glow-in-the-dark paint will luminesce when you turn out the lights, and fireflies luminesce in the night sky during the summertime. There are also many chemicals and minerals that naturally luminesce. A scientist would make the distinction that something luminesces when its light is cool, not hot like a match or a glowing flame. Luminesce, like the related luminescence and luminosity, comes from the Latin lumen, meaning "light."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

luminesce luminescing

In 1969, scientists discovered that all metals luminesce to some degree, but the intervening years failed to yield a clear understanding of how this occurs.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2024

The squid provides certain nutrients that allow the bacteria to luminesce.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The ability to luminesce does not benefit free-living bacteria, so free-living bacteria do not produce luciferase.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The squid produces the luminescent luciferase enzyme, so bacteria living outside the squid do not luminesce.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

These animals and habitats look more realistic than those at other light shows because of their sculpted forms — you could almost mistake them for the real thing, if not for their luminesce.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 8, 2021

Gray-cap mold is everywhere; their fungal constructions grow to the size of buildings, blocking streets, billowing in the wind, and luminescing at night.

From The New Yorker ● Jan. 14, 2015