Phosphorus is a poisonous yellowish-white chemical element. It glows slightly, and burns when air touches it.
phosphorus in British English
(ˈfɒsfərəs)
noun
1.
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. Word forms: pluralphosphori (-rai) a less common name for a phosphor
Word origin
C17: via Latin from Greek phōsphoros light-bringing, from phōs light +pherein to bring
Phosphorus in British English
(ˈfɒsfərəs)
noun
a morning star, esp Venus
phosphorus in American English
(ˈfɑsfərəs)
noun
1. Archaic
any phosphorescent substance or object
2.
a nonmetallic chemical element, normally a white, phosphorescent, waxy solid, becoming yellow when exposed to light: it is poisonous and unites easily with oxygen, so that it ignites spontaneously at room temperature: when heated in sealed tubes it is converted into a red form, which is nonpoisonous and less flammable than the white: when heatedunder a pressure of 10,000 atmospheres it is converted into a black powder: symbol, P; at. no., 15: a radioactive isotope (phosphorus-32) is used in the diagnosis and treatment of certain diseases, as a tracer in chemical and biochemical research, etc.
Word origin
ModL < L Phosphorus, morning star < Gr phōsphoros, bringer of light < phōs, a light, contr. < phaos < IE base *bhā-, to shine > Gr phainein, to show (> fantasy) + -phorous
Examples of 'phosphorus' in a sentence
phosphorus
The use of white phosphorus against civilians is prohibited under international law.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
At best this buys time until substantial changes to our use of phosphorus need to be made.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The evidence that white phosphorus shells have been fired as a smoke screen is so compelling that the denials have increasingly lacked credibility.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Of these, calcium and phosphorus are the most important.
Sedgbeer, Sandra The A-Z of Beauty Treatment (1994)
It simply means nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The army has opened its own inquiry into whether white phosphorus shells were used illegally against built-up civilian areas.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
White phosphorus is legal if fired as a battlefield smokescreen but it is banned in civilian areas, where its use could constitute a war crime.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The main structural minerals are calcium, phosphorus and magnesium - all of which are used to make bones.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
Word lists with
phosphorus
chemical
In other languages
phosphorus
British English: phosphorus NOUN
Phosphorus is a poisonous yellowish-white chemical element. It glows slightly, and burns when air touches it.