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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phosphor Phosphor

Today, the most efficient white LEDs use blue light emitting diodes with a rare-earth phosphor coating that converts the blue light into yellow, green and/or red which enables white lighting.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 23, 2024

When the blue light from the diodes goes through this layer, the phosphor absorbs some of the blue wavelengths and spits out red and yellow ones.

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

The very idea of a color broadcast was so implausible that Alvarez secreted a small magnet in his pocket to verify that the picture was actually produced by electrons striking a phosphor screen.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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

Phosphorus is known to enter into the composition of the human brain, and a trenchant German writer has exclaimed, “Ohne Phosphor, kein Gedanke.”

From The Voice of Science in Nineteenth-Century Literature Representative Prose and Verse by Various

The Morn began, from Ida, to display Her rosy cheeks; and Phosphor led the day: Before the gates the Grecians took their post, And all pretense of late relief was lost.

From The Aeneid English by Virgil

This successful match was named "Lucifer," whose other name was Phosphor, the Morning Star, and the King of the Western Land.

From Inventions in the Century by William Henry Doolittle

The brilliant Phosphor of a brighter day Too soon in night is passed for aye away!

From John Patrick, Third Marquess of Bute, K.T. A Memoir by David Hunter Blair

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