phosphoresce

[ fos-fuh-res ]

verb (used without object)

, phos·pho·resced, phos·pho·resc·ing.

1. to be luminous without sensible heat, as phosphorus.

phosphoresce

/ ˌfɒsfəˈrɛs /

verb

1. intr to exhibit phosphorescence

Word History and Origins

Origin of phosphoresce¹

First recorded in 1785–95; phosphor(us) + -esce

Example Sentences

He found that many organisms phosphoresce under ultraviolet light, so he created dramatic Technicolor images of the teeming biodiversity on the forest floor.

From New York Times

Small animals in the water, microscopic organisms, sometimes phosphoresced—gave off light almost like lightning bugs—when disturbed.

From Literature

Ian Kennedy, a mechanical engineer at the University of California, Davis, is using combustion to make nanoparticles that contain europium, an exotic and expensive element that phosphoresces strongly.

From Nature

Becquerel noted that carbon phosphoresces at a certain elevated temperature preceding the dark red.

From Project Gutenberg

Thou so picturest thyself before me, that I cannot see the phosphorescing nimbus of the earth glimmer and smoke behind thee!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beam
• blaze
• blink
• flare
• glance
• glare
• gleam
• glisten
• glow
• reflect
• shine
• sparkle
• twinkle