phos|pho|rus

phos|pho|rus
phos|pho|rus «FOS fuhr uhs», noun.
1. a solid nonmetallic chemical element which exists in several forms different in physical and chemical properties but not in kind of atoms. The most common form is a yellow, poisonous, waxy substance, which burns slowly at ordinary temperatures and glows in the dark. Another common form is a reddish-brown powder, nonluminous, nonpoisonous, and less flammable. »

No animal or plant can exist without phosphorus, and of all the substances necessary for plant growth, compounds containing available phosphorus are the most likely to be deficient (W. R. Jones).

2. a phosphorescent substance.
╂[< New Latin phosphorus < Latin phōsphorus morning star < Greek phōsphóros morning star, torchbearer < phôs, phōtós light1 + -phóros -phore < phérein to bear]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • or|ga|no|phos|pho|rus — «AWR guh noh FOS fuhr uhs», noun. a chemical compound consisting of an atom of phosphorus combined with an atom of carbon and one or more alkyl radicals, used especially as a pesticide. Malathion is an organophosphorus. Organophosphorus acts by… …   Useful english dictionary

  • ra|di|o|phos|pho|rus — «RAY dee oh FOS fuhr uhs», noun. a radioisotope of phosphorus, used in the treatment of leukemia and other diseases of the blood …   Useful english dictionary

  • phos·pho·rus — …   Useful english dictionary

  • phos — phos·gene; phos·gen·ic; phos·gen·ite; phos·pha·gen; phos·pham·ic; phos·pha·tase; phos·pha·te·mia; phos·phat·ic; phos·pha·tide; phos·phati·dyl; phos·pha·tion; phos·pha·ti·za·tion; phos·pha·tize; phos·pha·tu·ria; phos·phene; phos·phide;… …   English syllables

  • rus — ableph·a·rus; ac·an·thu·rus; ac·a·rus; ac·o·rus; ae·gag·rus; ae·lu·rus; aeto·sau·rus; ag·ri·o·choe·rus; ai·gi·a·lo·sau·rus; ai·lu·rus; alep·i·sau·rus; alop·e·cu·rus; am·ei·u·rus; am·i·u·rus; anom·a·lu·rus; an·thra·co·sau·rus; ap·a·to·sau·rus;… …   English syllables

  • phosphorus — phos·pho·rus …   English syllables

  • phosphorus — phos|pho|rus [ fasf(ə)rəs ] noun uncount a chemical element, especially a form called white phosphorus that starts to burn by itself when air touches it ╾ phos|pho|rous adjective …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • phosphorus — phos•pho•rus [[t]ˈfɒs fər əs[/t]] n. pl. pho•ri [[t] fəˌraɪ[/t]] 1) chem. 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… …   From formal English to slang

  • phosphorus — phos|pho|rus [ˈfɔsfərəs US ˈfa:s ] n [U] [Date: 1600 1700; : Modern Latin; Origin: Greek phosphoros carrying light ] a poisonous yellowish chemical substance that starts to burn when it is in the air, and shines in the dark. It is a chemical… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • organophosphorus — [ôr΄gə nō fäs′fə rəs, ôr gan΄ōfäs′fə rəs] adj. of an organic compound containing phosphorus * * * or·gan·o·phos·pho·rus (ôr gə nō fŏsʹfər əs, fŏs fôrʹəs, fōrʹ , ôr găn ə ) n. An organophosphate.   or gan·o·phosʹpho·rus or or gan·o·phosʹpho·rous… …   Universalium

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