phosphor
/ˈfɒsfə
/noun [mass noun]
1A synthetic fluorescent or phosphorescent substance, especially one used to coat the screen of a cathode ray tube: a layer of phosphor is sandwiched between two electrodes [count noun]: yttrium and europium are in demand for use in phosphors for colour TVs [as modifier]: a phosphor screen...
- Compounds of the element are also used to make phosphors that coat the screen of television tubes and CRTs (cathode ray tubes).
- To obtain good colour pictures on a TV screen, you need phosphors that produce rich, pure primaries.
- Fluorescent materials can be synthetic, such as phosphors, or occur in nature, for example, fluorescent minerals.
1.1 old-fashioned term for phosphorus.The term "phosphor" obviously is employed as well for the chemical element discovered by a Hamburg alchemist, Hennig Brand, in 1669.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Latin phosphorus (see phosphorus).