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Phosphorus
//ˈfɒs.fə.ɹəs// name, noun
Definitions
Proper Noun
- 1 A name sometimes used for Hesperus, the personification in Greek mythology of the planet Venus.
- 2 An Ancient Greek name for the morning star (the planet Venus when it is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise).
"Near-synonyms: evening star, evenstar, Hesperus, Vesper, Venus"
Noun
- 1 A chemical element (symbol P) with an atomic number of 15, that exists in several allotropic forms. countable, uncountable
"For quotations using this term, see Citations:phosphorus."
- 2 a planet (usually Venus) seen just before sunrise in the eastern sky wordnet
- 3 Any substance exhibiting phosphorescence; a phosphor. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"For quotations using this term, see Citations:phosphorus."
- 4 a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms wordnet
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Latin phōsphorus, from Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros, “the bearer of light”), from φῶς (phôs, “light”) + φέρω (phérō, “to bear, carry”).
Etymology 2
From Latinised Greek Phosphorus, from Ancient Greek Φωσφόρος (Phōsphóros, “the bearer of light”), from φῶς (phôs, “light”) + φέρω (phérō, “I bear, carry”).
See also for "phosphorus"
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