Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for phosphoresce. Search instead for phosphorescing.
Synonyms

phosphoresce

American  
[fos-fuh-res] / ˌfɒs fəˈrɛs /

verb (used without object)

phosphoresced, phosphorescing
  1. to be luminous without sensible heat, as phosphorus.


phosphoresce British  
/ ˌfɒsfəˈrɛs /

verb

  1. (intr) to exhibit phosphorescence

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of phosphoresce

First recorded in 1785–95; phosphor(us) + -esce

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.

See Examples For:

He found that many organisms phosphoresce under ultraviolet light, so he created dramatic Technicolor images of the teeming biodiversity on the forest floor.

From New York Times Jun. 8, 2023

It is very slowly released, but the ceramic can be induced to phosphoresce by heating—a process called “thermoluminescence.”

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

If then we prepare densely inseminated plates of these two bacteria in gelatine food-medium to which starch is added as the only carbohydrate, the bacteria grow but do not phosphoresce.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy" by Various

The bulb is also a convenient little instrument for the purpose of heating those substances which phosphoresce, and likewise those salts that decrepitate.

From A System of Instruction in the Practical Use of the Blowpipe Being A Graduated Course Of Analysis For The Use Of Students And All Those Engaged In The Examination Of Metallic Combinations by Anonymous

Whenever the tube of radium was drawn away more than two or three feet the phosphoresce ceased; whenever it was placed under the tureen the diamond immediately phosphoresced again.

From A History of Science, Volume 5(of 5) Aspects Of Recent Science by Williams, Henry Smith

A diamond was suspended in the water and immediately phosphoresced.

From A History of Science, Volume 5(of 5) Aspects Of Recent Science by Williams, Henry Smith

Whenever the tube of radium was drawn away more than two or three feet the phosphoresce ceased; whenever it was placed under the tureen the diamond immediately phosphoresced again.

From A History of Science, Volume 5(of 5) Aspects Of Recent Science by Williams, Henry Smith

Now and then they entered the nimbus of a gas lamp hovering just over their heads like a phosphorescing sea creature.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thou so picturest thyself before me, that I cannot see the phosphorescing nimbus of the earth glimmer and smoke behind thee!

From The Invisible Lodge by Jean Paul

Albano went out, with the whole sea of his inner being sparkling and phosphorescing under the influence of the wine and the forenoon, and the blue heaven fluttering in stronger breezes around him.

From Titan: A Romance v. 1 (of 2) by Richter, Jean Paul Friedrich

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training