phosphorescent
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of phosphorescent
First recorded in 1760–70; phosphor(us) + -escent
Explanation
Anything phosphorescent emits light but not much heat. Phosphorescent things glow in the dark. Have you ever seen a lightning bug? They're a lot easier to spot at night, because they glow, giving off light and looking like flying, dancing night lights. The word for creatures and things like lightning bugs is phosphorescent. Phosphorescent things give off hardly any heat, but they radiate light. Glow-in-the-dark toys are phosphorescent. It can help you remember this word if you know that phosphorus is a substance that emits light, so anything that does so is phosphorescent.
Vocabulary lists containing phosphorescent
The Old Man and the Sea
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National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 3
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The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Phosphorescent minerals absorb light and then slowly release it, much like a glow-in-the-dark sticker.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017
Thile punctuates songs from "The Phosphorescent Blues," his band's most ambitious album to date, with colorful asides and engaging anecdotes.
From Washington Post • May 28, 2015
Giddens' label mates the Punch Brothers, meanwhile, will issue their long-awaited Burnett-produced album "The Phosphorescent Blues" on Jan. 27.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 2, 2015
They will have three different opening acts: Phosphorescent on Tuesday, Lord Huron on Wednesday and MS MR on Thursday.
From New York Times • Jun. 12, 2014
Phosphorescent moss covered the ceiling, bathing the room in a blue-and-green glow.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
