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.

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adjective

1. Archaic. phosphorescent.

phosphor- ² American  

1. variant of phosphoro- before a vowel.

   phosphorate.

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Phosphor ³ American  

[fos-fer, -fawr] / ˈfɒs fər, -fɔr /

Also Phosphore

noun

1. the morning star, especially Venus.

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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

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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

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Etymology

Origin of phosphor¹

1625–35; < French phosphore < Latin Phōsphorus Phosphor

Origin of Phosphor¹

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

This performance is 5.6 times as high as that observed in previous studies using the same phosphor.

From Science Daily

They then prepared a demonstration sample to pass through the column to see if it could capture the phosphors.

From Science Daily

While currently white light is achieved by phosphor down-conversion, LED color mixing actually has a higher theoretical maximum efficiency, which is needed in order to achieve the 2035 DOE energy efficiency goals.

From Science Daily

Like conventional bulbs, they produced white light by converting some of the blue light into red and green with the help of phosphors encased in the bulbs.

From Science Daily

The blue light is just adjusted using materials called phosphors.

From BBC