"morning star," 1630s, from Latin phosphorus "the morning star" (see phosphorus). Meaning "anything phosphorescent" is from 1705.
phosphor- pref.
Variant of phosphoro-.
| phosphor (fŏs'fər) 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. |
solid material that emits light, or luminesces, when exposed to radiation such as ultraviolet light or an electron beam. Hundreds of thousands of phosphors have been synthesized, each one having its own characteristic colour of emission and period of time during which light is emitted after excitation ceases. When certain phosphors luminesce from electron excitation, the process is called electroluminescence, and these phosphors are used in the production of television screens and computer monitors. Phosphors excited by ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation are used principally in the so-called fluorescent lamps commonly employed for general illumination