phosphorescence

[fos-fuh-res-uhns]

noun

1. the property of being luminous at temperatures below incandescence, as from slow oxidation in the case of phosphorus or after exposure to light or other radiation.

2. a luminous appearance resulting from this.

3. any luminous radiation emitted from a substance after the removal of the exciting agent.

phosphorescence

/ ˌfɒsfəˈrɛsəns /

noun

1. physics

   1. a fluorescence that persists after the bombarding radiation producing it has stopped

   2. a fluorescence for which the average lifetime of the excited atoms is greater than 10 ^–8 seconds

2. the light emitted in phosphorescence

3. the emission of light during a chemical reaction, such as bioluminescence, in which insufficient heat is evolved to cause fluorescence Compare fluorescence

Other Word Forms

• semiphosphorescence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of phosphorescence¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; phosphoresc(ent) + -ence

Example Sentences

The music stops, the lights return to the usual sickly phosphorescence, and the administrator pulls his usual demeanor back to formality as everyone recovers from their shock.

Read more on Salon

Abiotic minerals also emit their own light, called phosphorescence.

Read more on Scientific American

But the phosphorescence of her work is not dimmed.

Read more on New York Times

Visitors come for its “blue tears,” a phosphorescence in the waters caused by algae.

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Unfortunately, the phosphorescence also gives the sails the slightest green tinge in daylight.

Read more on Washington Post

Related Words

• beam 
• blaze 
• burst 
• flame 
• flare 
• glare 
• gleam 
• glimmer 
• glint 
• glitter 
• glow 
• radiation 
• ray 
• reflection 
• spark 
• sparkle 
• vision