phos·pho·rus

(fŏs′fər-əs)

1. Symbol P A highly reactive, poisonous, nonmetallic element occurring naturally in phosphates, especially apatite, and existing in three allotropic forms, white (or sometimes yellow), red, and black (or violet). An essential element for biological cells, it is used in safety matches, pyrotechnics, incendiary shells, and fertilizers and to protect metal surfaces from corrosion. Atomic number 15; atomic weight 30.9738; melting point (white) 44.15°C; boiling point 280.5°C; specific gravity (white) 1.82, (red) 2.16, (black) 2.25 to 2.69; valence 3, 4, 5. See Periodic Table.

2. A phosphorescent substance.

3. Phosphorus Astronomy See Lucifer.

[Modern Latin phōsphorus, substance or organism that emits light, phosphorus, Latin Phōsphorus, morning star, from Greek phōsphoros, bringing light, morning star : phōs, light; see bhā- in Indo-European roots + -phoros, -phorous.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

phosphorus

(ˈfɒsfərəs)

npl phosphori (-rai)

1. (Elements & Compounds) an allotropic nonmetallic element occurring in phosphates and living matter. Ordinary phosphorus is a toxic flammable phosphorescent white solid; the red form is less reactive and nontoxic: used in matches, pesticides, and alloys. The radioisotope phosphorus-32 (radiophosphorus), with a half-life of 14.3 days, is used in radiotherapy and as a tracer. Symbol: P; atomic no: 15; atomic wt: 30.973 762; valency: 3 or 5; relative density: 1.82 (white), 2.20 (red); melting pt: 44.1°C (white); boiling pt: 280°C (white)

2. (General Physics) a less common name for a phosphor

[C17: via Latin from Greek phōsphoros light-bringing, from phōs light +pherein to bring]

Phosphorus

(ˈfɒsfərəs)

(Astronomy) a morning star, esp Venus

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

phos•pho•rus

(ˈfɒs fər əs)

n., pl. -pho•ri (-fəˌraɪ)

1. a nonmetallic element existing in yellow, red, and black allotropic forms and an essential constituent of plant and animal tissue: used, in combined form, in matches and fertilizers. Symbol: P; at. wt.: 30.974; at. no.: 15; sp. gr.: (yellow) 1.82 at 20°C, (red) 2.20 at 20°C, (black) 2.25–2.69 at 20°C.

2. any phosphorescent substance.

3. phosphor.

[1620–30; < New Latin phōsphorus, Latin: morning star; see phosphor]

phos·pho·rus

(fŏs′fər-əs)

Symbol P A highly reactive, poisonous nonmetallic element occurring naturally in phosphates and existing in white (or sometimes yellow), red, and black forms. It is an essential component of protoplasm. Phosphorus is used to make matches, fireworks, and fertilizers and to protect metal surfaces from corrosion. Atomic number 15. See Periodic Table.

phosphoric adjective

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	phosphorus - a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms atomic number 15, P chemical element, element - any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter apatite - a common complex mineral consisting of calcium fluoride phosphate or calcium chloride phosphate; a source of phosphorus
	2.	Phosphorus - a planet (usually Venus) seen just before sunrise in the eastern sky daystar, morning star, Lucifer major planet, planet - (astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto in order of their proximity to the sun; viewed from the constellation Hercules, all the planets rotate around the sun in a counterclockwise direction

Translations

фосфор

fosfor

Phosphor

φωσφόρος φώσφορος

fosforo

fósforo

fosfor

fosfori

phosphore

fosfor

foszfor

fosfór

fosforo

phosphorus

fosforas

fosfor

fosfor

fosfor

фосфор

photpho

phosphorus

[ˈfɒsfərəs] N → fósforo m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

phosphorus

[ˈfɒsfərəs] n → phosphore m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

phosphorus

n → Phosphor m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

phosphorus

[ˈfɒsf/ərəs] n → fosforo

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

phos·pho·rus

n. fósforo, elemento no metálico que se encuentra en alcaloides.

phosphorus

n fósforo

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

The soft scales of the white bark rubbed off the phosphorus, and the light went out.

View in context

This time he went to work more carefully, and feeling with his fingers for a match with the largest head and the greatest amount of phosphorus, lit it at the first try.

View in context

The phial, to which I next turned my attention, might have been about half full of a blood-red liquor, which was highly pungent to the sense of smell and seemed to me to contain phosphorus and some volatile ether.

View in context

The fame of this exploit having spread to the other rooms, and being discredited there, the young necromancer declared that the same wonder would appear in all the rooms in turn, which it accordingly did; and the whole circumstances having been privately reported to one of the ushers as usual, that functionary, after listening about at the doors of the rooms, by a sudden descent caught the performer in his night-shirt, with a box of phosphorus in his guilty hand.

View in context

From such things as feet, knuckles, hide clippings, and sinews came such strange and unlikely products as gelatin, isinglass, and phosphorus, bone black, shoe blacking, and bone oil.

View in context

These different aliments appeared to me to be rich in phosphorus, and I thought they must have a marine origin.

View in context

With such a mind, active as phosphorus, biting everything that came near into the form that suited it, how could Mrs.

View in context

Elmo's light; and the form of the vane could almost be traced, as if it had been rubbed with phosphorus. The sea was so highly luminous, that the tracks of the penguins were marked by a fiery wake, and the darkness of the sky was momentarily illuminated by the most vivid lightning.

View in context

The Duke of Egypt pointed sadly to the two streams of boiling lead which did not cease to streak the black facade, like two long distaffs of phosphorus.

View in context

The visitor was standing in the doorway, but turned a little into the gloom of the house as Mr Flintwinch turned, and pursued him with his eyes into the little room, where he groped about for a phosphorus box.

View in context

his chisel had fashioned out of marble the form of a beautiful youth, Phosphorus, whose aspect is such that it is said all persons who look on it become silent.

View in context

"It was a monkey-trick of mine," observed Fisher, gloomily, "putting phosphorus on the target; but the only chance to make him jump was to give him the horrors suddenly.

View in context