phos ‧ pho ‧ rus /ˈfɒsf ə rəs $ ˈfɑːs-/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: 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 ↑ element : symbol P
—phosphoric /fɒsˈfɒrɪk $ fɑːsˈfɔː-, fɑːsˈfɑː-, ˈfɑːsfərɪk/ adjective :
phosphoric acid