any of a number of substances that exhibit luminescence when struck by light of certain wavelengths, as by ultraviolet.
Literary. a phosphorescent substance.
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.
See Note at cathode-ray tube
1625–35; < French phosphore < Latin Phōsphorus Phosphor
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
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
Another long pause as they both peered at the gloom with her phosphor green paint lighting.
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
Phosphor, the light-bringer or morning star; also called Hespĕrus, and by Homer and Hesiod Heôs-phŏros.
From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook, Vol. 3 by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham
Phosphorus is a constituent of the human brain, and a trenchant German writer has exclaimed, "Ohne Phosphor kein Gedanke!"
From Fragments of science, V. 1-2 by Tyndall, John
Phosphorus is known to enter into the composition of the human brain, and a trenchant German writer has exclaimed, 'Ohne Phosphor, kein Gedanke!'
From Fragments of science, V. 1-2 by Tyndall, John
Like Phosphor, in the sullen rear of night, Before the golden wheels of orient light He came.
From The Sonnets, Triumphs, and Other Poems of Petrarch by Campbell, Thomas
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.
