1852; fluor(spar) + -escence, on the model of opalescence, in reference to the mineral's newly discovered property
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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| the acceleration of a falling body in the earth's gravitational field, inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the body to the center of the earth |
| a unit of energy, the work done by a force of one newton when its point of application moves through a distance of one meter in the direction of the force |
| fluorescence (ˌflʊəˈrɛsəns) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | physics |
| a. the emission of light or other radiation from atoms or molecules that are bombarded by particles, such as electrons, or by radiation from a separate source. The bombarding radiation produces excited atoms, molecules, or ions and these emit photons as they fall back to the ground state | |
| b. such an emission of photons that ceases as soon as the bombarding radiation is discontinued | |
| c. such an emission of photons for which the average lifetime of the excited atoms and molecules is less than about 10--8 seconds | |
| 2. | Compare phosphorescence the radiation emitted as a result of fluorescence |
| [C19: | |
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fluorescence
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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.
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fluorescence  (fl -rěs'əns) Pronunciation Key
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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fluorescence definition
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.
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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