phosphorus
UK /ˈfɒs.fə.ɹəs/ · US /ˈfɑs.fɚ.əs/ noun, proper noun
Forms phosphoruses phosphori Phosphor
- noun (chemistry) A chemical element (symbol P) with an atomic number of 15, that exists in several allotropic forms.
- noun (countable) An atom of this element.
- noun (obsolete) Any substance exhibiting phosphorescence; a phosphor.
- proper noun A name sometimes used for Hesperus, the personification in Greek mythology of the planet Venus.
- proper noun An Ancient Greek name for the morning star (the planet Venus when it is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise).
Synonyms
Hesperus morning star Eosphorus Lucifer evening star evenstar Vesper Venus P atomic number 15 daystar
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin phōsphorus, from Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros, “the bearer of light”), from φῶς (phôs, “light”) + φέρω (phérō, “to bear, carry”).
From Latinised Greek Phosphorus, from Ancient Greek Φωσφόρος (Phōsphóros, “the bearer of light”), from φῶς (phôs, “light”) + φέρω (phérō, “to bear, carry”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The morning star; Phosphor.
- noun A poisonous nonmetallic element of the nitrogen group, obtained as a white, or yellowish, translucent waxy substance, having a characteristic disagreeable smell. It is very active chemically, must be preserved under water, and unites with oxygen even at ordinary temperatures, giving a faint glow, --whence its name. It always occurs compined, usually in phosphates, as in the mineral apatite, in bones, etc. It is used in the composition on the tips of friction matches, and for many other purposes. The molecule contains four atoms. Symbol P. Atomic weight 31.0.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “phosphorus”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details