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”; -phorous

Example Sentences

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

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2024

“The materials that are normally used to make the phosphor are extremely stable,” he says.

From Scientific American • Sep. 27, 2023

A byproduct of private and industrial food consumption and processing, sludge and compost can replace some of the nitrogen and phosphor from synthetic fertilizers.

From Salon • Sep. 29, 2022

For example, he says, CMI developed a red phosphor for fluorescent lighting that does not require rare europium.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 11, 2021

Another long pause as they both peered at the gloom with her phosphor green paint lighting.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi