n.
Pronunciation: ' fäs-f( ə -)r ə s
Function: noun
Usage: often attrib
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek ph ō sphoros light-bearing ― more at PHOSPHOR
Date: 1645
1 : a phosphorescent substance or body especially : one that shines or glows in the dark
2 also phos · pho · rous \ same \ : a nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs widely especially as phosphates ― see ELEMENT table