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• 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.

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adjective

1. Archaic. phosphorescent.

Phosphor ² American  

[fos-fer, -fawr] / ˈfɒs fər, -fɔr /

Also Phosphore

noun

1. the morning star, especially Venus.

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phosphor- ³ American  

1. variant of phosphoro- before a vowel.

   phosphorate.

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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

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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

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phosphor Phosphor

While currently white light is achieved by phosphor down-conversion, LED color mixing actually has a higher theoretical maximum efficiency, which is needed in order to achieve the 2035 DOE energy efficiency goals.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 23, 2024

The phosphor technique is sound, says Ram Seshadri, a materials science professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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

A shadow fell through the green glow of her forehead phosphor.

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

As Phosphor leads the kindling glory on, And fades, lost in the day-god’s bright excess, So didst thou in Redemption’s coming dawn, Grow lustreless, The fading herald of the Sun of Righteousness.

From The Poets and Poetry of Cecil County, Maryland by Various

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

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 Thomas Campbell

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

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