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fluorescence - 9 dictionary results
fluo⋅res⋅cence
[floo-res-uh
ns, flaw-, floh-]
–noun Physics, Chemistry.
| 1. | the emission of radiation, esp. of visible light, by a substance during exposure to external radiation, as light or x-rays. Compare phosphorescence (def. 1). |
| 2. | the property possessed by a substance capable of such emission. |
| 3. | the radiation so produced. |
Origin:
1852; fluor(spar) + -escence, on the model of opalescence, in reference to the mineral's newly discovered property
1852; fluor(spar) + -escence, on the model of opalescence, in reference to the mineral's newly discovered property

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To fluorescence
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Fluorescence
Flu`o*res"cence\, n. [From Fluor.] (Opt.) That property which some transparent bodies have of producing at their surface, or within their substance, light different in color from the mass of the material, as when green crystals of fluor spar afford blue reflections. It is due not to the difference in the color of a distinct surface layer, but to the power which the substance has of modifying the light incident upon it. The light emitted by fluorescent substances is in general of lower refrangibility than the incident light. --Stockes.Fluorescence
Flu`o*res"cence\, n. A property possessed by fluor spar, uranium glass, sulphide of calcium, and many other substances, of glowing without appreciable rise of temperature when exposed to light or to ultra-violet rays, cathode rays, X rays, etc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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fluorescence
The emission of light from an object as a result of bombardment by other kinds of electromagnetic radiation, such as x-rays or ultraviolet rays. Fluorescent materials may appear one color when bathed in visible light and another color when exposed to other kinds of electromagnetic radiation.
Note: “Black light” depends on fluorescence for its effects.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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fluorescence
1852, "glowing in ultraviolet light," coined by Eng. mathematician and physicist Sir George G. Stokes (1819-1903) from fluorspar (see fluorine), because in it he first noticed the phenomenon, + ending -escence from opalescence, phosphorescence. The fluorescent electric lamp patent was applied for in 1896 by Thomas A. Edison, but such lights were rare before 1938.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: flu·o·res·cence
Pronunciation: -'es-&n(t)s
Function: noun
: luminescence that is caused by the absorption ofradiation at one wavelength followed by nearly immediate reradiation usually at a different wavelength and that ceases almost immediately when the incident radiation stops; also : theradiation emitted —flu·o·res·cent /-'es-&nt/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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fluorescence fluo·res·cence (fl&oobreve;-rěs'əns, flô-)
n.
- The emission of electromagnetic radiation, especially of visible light, stimulated in a substance by the absorption of incident radiation and persisting only as long as the stimulating radiation is continued.
- The property of emitting such radiation.
fluo·res'cent adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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fluorescence (fl -rěs'əns) Pronunciation Key
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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