fluorescent

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /flɔːˈɹɛs.ənt/ UK /flɔːˈɹɛs.ənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #25926

Meanings

1

adj
emitting visible or other electromagnetic radiation while excited by absorbed radiation or energetic particles, with the emission usually ending almost at once when excitation stops

The fluorescent screen flashed wherever an alpha particle struck it.
2

adj
strikingly vivid and bright in color, as if giving off light

Cyclists wore fluorescent yellow jackets so that drivers could see them easily.
3

noun
a fluorescent lamp or lighting fixture

The maintenance crew replaced the flickering fluorescent above the workbench.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · emitting visible or other... fluorescingluminescent

2 adj · strikingly vivid and bright... vividneon-bright

3 noun · a fluorescent lamp or... fluorescent lampfluorescent light

Opposites

nonfluorescentdull muted

Word family

Derived forms fluorescentlynonfluorescentautofluorescentbiofluorescent

Related forms fluorescencefluorescefluoriteluminescencephosphorescence

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

fluorescent screen
a screen coated with material that glows when struck by certain radiation

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Formed in 1853 from fluorescence + -ent. George Gabriel Stokes coined fluorescence in 1852 from fluorspar (fluorite) on the model of opalescence. Fluorite ultimately takes its name from Latin fluere ("to flow") because the mineral was used as a flux.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# fluorescent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /flɔːˈɹɛs.ənt/
**IPA (UK):** /flɔːˈɹɛs.ənt/
**Frequency rank:** 25926

## Meanings
1. emitting visible or other electromagnetic radiation while excited by absorbed radiation or energetic particles, with the emission usually ending almost at once when excitation stops
2. strikingly vivid and bright in color, as if giving off light
3. a fluorescent lamp or lighting fixture

## Examples
- The fluorescent screen flashed wherever an alpha particle struck it.
- Cyclists wore fluorescent yellow jackets so that drivers could see them easily.
- The maintenance crew replaced the flickering fluorescent above the workbench.

## Synonyms
- fluorescing
- luminescent
- vivid
- neon-bright
- fluorescent lamp

## Antonyms
- nonfluorescent
- dull
- muted

## Derived Forms
- fluorescently
- nonfluorescent
- autofluorescent
- biofluorescent

## Related Forms
- fluorescence
- fluoresce
- fluorite
- luminescence
- phosphorescence

## Etymology
Formed in 1853 from fluorescence + -ent. George Gabriel Stokes coined fluorescence in 1852 from fluorspar (fluorite) on the model of opalescence. Fluorite ultimately takes its name from Latin fluere ("to flow") because the mineral was used as a flux.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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