phosphorus
phosphorus Lexical Profile
phosphorus Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A highly reactive, nonmetallic chemical element with atomic number 15 and symbol P, occurring in white, red, and black allotropic forms and essential to plant and animal life.
"Soils deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus require supplementation to support healthy crop growth."
Any substance that exhibits phosphorescence or luminescence without combustion.
"Early chemists experimented with various natural phosphori that continued to glow in a darkened room after exposure to sunlight."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the noun "phosphorus" (the chemical element) with the adjective "phosphorous" (relating to or containing trivalent phosphorus).
• Rhymes for phosphorus
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin Phosphorus ("the morning star"), from Ancient Greek Phosphoros ("light-bringer"), combining phos ("light") and phoros ("bearer"). The chemical element was named in the 17th century because its white allotrope glows faintly in the dark upon exposure to oxygen.