phosphor

¹

[ fos-fer, -fawr ]

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

[ fos-fer, -fawr ]

noun

1. the morning star, especially Venus.

phosphor-

³

1. variant of phosphoro- before a vowel:

   phosphorate.

phosphor

/ 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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

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”; -phorous

Word History and Origins

Origin of phosphor¹

C17: from French, ultimately from Greek phōsphoros phosphorus

Example Sentences

Next, the team mimicked old fluorescent lamp parts by mixing the phosphor particles in a liquid solution with nonmagnetic silica oxide and strongly magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, representing glass and metal components in the bulbs, respectively.

From Science Daily

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

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

This process is called phosphor down-conversion.

From Science Daily

This process of phosphor down-conversion, however, has limitations.

From Science Daily