Jump To:

• 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.

---

adjective

1. Archaic. phosphorescent.

Phosphor ² American  

[fos-fer, -fawr] / ˈfɒs fər, -fɔr /

Also Phosphore

noun

1. the morning star, especially Venus.

---

phosphor- ³ American  

1. variant of phosphoro- before a vowel.

   phosphorate.

---

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

---

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

---

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phosphor Phosphor

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

From Science Daily ● Dec. 2, 2024

First, it’s possible that losing the phosphor layer dims the lamps’ brightness—and streetlights are supposed to emit a certain level of light depending on the type of the road that they’re used on.

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

He tugged on his last set of clothes, grabbed the phosphor grease, found the silver earring and the luck bag of rice that he’d been given.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

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

But although so fierce a fighter, so inhospitable to every other cat, Phosphor is the most affectionate little soul.

From Concerning Cats My Own and Some Others by Helen M. Winslow

By thee inspired, his tube the Tuscan plies, And sends new colonies to stock the skies, Gives Jove his satellites, and first adorns Effulgent Phosphor with his silver horns.

From The Columbiad by Joel Barlow

The sun set late; but hardly had he gone When o'er the moon's gold-litten crescent there, Clean Phosphor, polished as a precious stone, Burned in fair deeps of air.

From Kentucky Poems by Madison J. Cawein

As Phosphor far outshines the starry host; As silver Cynthia Phosphor bright outshines; So much did Hersé all the nymphs excel, The bright procession's ornament; the pride Of all th' accompanying nymphs.

From The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Vols. I & II by J. J. Howard