phosphorescent

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“
The electricity in their hides had made a sort of blue haze -- phosphorescent, they call it -- and it gave 'em an awful look.

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Definitions (5)

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  1. Shining with a faint light or luminosity like that of phosphorus; luminous without sensible heat. Various animals are phosphorescent; as, among infusorians, the noctilucas (see cut under Noctiluca); among polyps, certain sea-pens (Pennatula phosphorea, for example); among insects, the glow-worm and other beetles of the family Lampyridæ (see cuts under firefly, Lampyris, and lightning-bug), and many bugs of the family Fulgoridæ. (see cut under lantern-fly); among ascidians, the pyrosomes or firebodies; and some fishes. A number of mineral substances exhibit a similar property after having been exposed to a bright light, though from a different cause, as calcium chlorid, anhydrous calcium nitrate, the sulphids of barium, strontium, calcium (luminous paint), the diamond, some varieties of fluor-spar. apatite, borax, and many other substances. Some mineral bodies become phosphorescent when strongly heated, as a piece of lime See phosphorescence.
  2. Phosphorescent dial, paint, photograph etc. See the nouns.
  3. A substance having the property of phosphorescence, or luminosity without heat. The additions used by us as the third constituent are colourless salts, and all of them fusible at the temperature at which the phosphorescents are prepared. Philosophical Mag., 5th ser., XXVIII. 428.

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Examples (50)

  • While it is known that the fire fly and the glow worm emit what is called a phosphorescent light, this fact is a mere prelude to the knowledge of what is the exact color of daylight Color of Daylight? —  The Wonder Island Boys: Adventures on Strange Islands
  • In 1896 Becquerel brought us to the threshold of the great discovery Certain substances are phosphorescent--they become luminous after they have been exposed to sunlight for some time, and Becquerel was trying to find if any of these substances give rise to X-rays. —  The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4) A Plain Story Simply Told
  • At their feet the tide lapped the beach, phosphorescent, at the last draught of ebb Somewhere in the darkness at the head of the beach--either by the footbridge where the stream ran down, or in the meadow behind it--lay the main body. —  The Mayor of Troy
  • The friction resulting from ten living in one room must make one of them phosphorescent--and capable of giving light to humanity. —  An Anarchist Woman
  • The waters were beautifully phosphorescent, and when disturbed by our motion they flashed and glittered like a river of stars. —  Overland through Asia; Pictures of Siberian, Chinese, and Tartar Life
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Etymologies (1)

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  1. = French phosphorescent = Spanish fosjorescente = Portuguese phosphorescente = Italian fosforescente; as phosphor + -escent. Cf. phosphoresce.
 

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