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• phosphor
  phosphor

  noun

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

  noun

  the morning star, especially Venus.
• phosphor-
  phosphor-

  variant of phosphoro- before a vowel.

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  

[fos-fer, -fawr] / ˈfɒs fər, -fɔr /

Also Phosphore

noun

1. the morning star, especially Venus.

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phosphor- ³ American  

1. variant of phosphoro- before a vowel.

   phosphorate.

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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 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”; see -phorous

Example Sentences

Furthermore, one of the mobile developers in the Partners programme, Phosphor Games, is creating an action fantasy title named Horn, clearly aimed at the dedicated gaming audience.

From The Guardian • Aug. 2, 2012

Phosphor wore a bell for a short time once—a little Inch-Cape Rock bell—but he left it to toll all winter in a tall tree near the drawing-room window.

From Concerning Cats My Own and Some Others by Winslow, Helen M.

The sun set late; but hardly had he gone When o'er the moon's gold-litten crescent there, Clean Phosphor, polished as a precious stone, Pulsed in fair deeps of air.

From Blooms of the Berry by Cawein, Madison J.

So, when thick vapors veil the nightly sky, The starry host in half-seen lustre fly, Till Phosphor rises o'er the twinkling crowd, And gives new splendor thro his parting cloud.

From The Columbiad by Barlow, Joel

Light will repay The wrongs of night; Sweet Phosphor, bring the day!

From Familiar Quotations A Collection of Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern Literature by Bartlett, John