triboluminescence

American

[trahy-boh-loo-muh-nes-uhns, trib-oh-] / ˌtraɪ boʊˌlu məˈnɛs əns, ˌtrɪb oʊ- /

noun

Physics.

luminescence produced by friction, usually within a crystalline substance.

triboluminescence British

/ ˌtraɪbəʊˌluːmɪˈnɛsəns /

noun

luminescence produced by friction, such as the emission of light when certain crystals are crushed

"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

Other Word Forms

triboluminescent adjective

Etymology

Origin of triboluminescence

First recorded in 1885–90; tribo- + luminescence

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.

Another possibility is that earthquake lights are a manifestation of triboluminescence, which refers to light released when chemical bonds are broken through rubbing, crushing or scratching.

From Washington Post

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023