I. “+ noun
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary therm- + luminescence; originally formed as German thermolumineszenz
: phosphorescence developed in a previously excited substance (as quartz) upon gentle heating — called also thermophosphorescence
• ther·mo·luminescent “+ adjective
II. noun
or thermoluminescence dating
: the determination of the age of old material (as pottery) by the amount of thermoluminescence it produces