n. [ Cf. G. phosphor. See Phosphorus. ] 1. Phosphorus. [ Obs. ] Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The planet Venus, when appearing as the morning star; Lucifer. [ Poetic and Rare ] Pope. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A phosphorescent substance. [ archaic ] [ PJC ]

4. A substance capable of exhibiting luminescence. This term is now most commonly used to refer to substances used in fluorescent lights, image intensifiers, or cathode-ray tubes (CRT's), which luminesce when excited by ultraviolet radiation or an electron beam. In color CRT's, three different phosphors, each giving different colors when excited, are used. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Phosphorated p. pr. & vb. n. Phosphorating. ] (Chem.) To impregnate, or combine, with phosphorus or its compounds; as, phosphorated oil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Phosphor + bronze. ] (Metal.) A variety of bronze possessing great hardness, elasticity, and toughness, obtained by melting copper with tin phosphide. It contains one or two per cent of phosphorus and from five to fifteen per cent of tin. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Phosphorescent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Phosphoresced p. pr. & vb. n. Phosphorescing ] 1. To shine as phosphorus; to be phosphorescent; to emit a phosphoric light. Generally, to emit light at temperatures too low to excite incandescent radiation. [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]

2. To emit light after a source of illumination has been removed; to exhibit phosphorescence. [ PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. phosphorescence. ] 1. The quality or state of being phosphorescent. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The process of phosphorescing, especially that of emitting light after a source of excitation has been removed. This contrasts with the process of fluorescence, in which a substance emits light of a lower wavelength than the illuminating light, only while the illumination continues. [ PJC ]

3. Light emitted by the process of phosphorescence. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. phosphorescent. ] Shining with a phosphoric light; emitting phosphorescence; luminous without sensible heat. -- n. A phosphorescent substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. phosphorique. ] 1. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to phosphorus; resembling, or containing, phosporus; specifically, designating those compounds in which phosphorus has a higher valence as contrasted with the phosphorous compounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Phosphorescent. “A phosphoric sea.” Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

Glacial phosphoric acid. (Chem.) (a) Metaphosphoric acid in the form of glassy semitransparent masses or sticks. (b) Pure normal phosphoric acid. --
Phosphoric acid (Chem.), a white crystalline substance, H3PO4, which is the most highly oxidized acid of phosphorus, and forms an important and extensive series of compounds, viz., the phosphates. --
Soluble phosphoric acid,
Insoluble phosphoric acid (Agric. Chem.), phosphoric acid combined in acid salts, or in neutral or basic salts, which are respectively soluble and insoluble in water or in plant juices. --
Reverted phosphoric acid (Agric. Chem.), phosphoric acid changed from acid (soluble) salts back to neutral or basic (insoluble) salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Old Chem.) Phosphoric. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) A massive variety of apatite. [ 1913 Webster ]