fluorescence

noun

fluo·res·cence | \ flu̇-ˈre-sᵊn(t)s

, flȯ-\

Definition of fluorescence

: luminescence that is caused by the absorption of radiation at one wavelength followed by nearly immediate reradiation usually at a different wavelength and that ceases almost at once when the incident radiation stops also : the radiation emitted — compare phosphorescence

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Examples of fluorescence in a Sentence

studied the fluorescence of certain elements

Recent Examples on the Web

Those cultures release a robin's egg fluorescence that indicates the presence of bacteria. — Maddy Lauria, baltimoresun.com, "At Delaware's beaches, scientists test waters for signs of fecal bacteria," 9 June 2019 Stephanie Ware, a research assistant at Chicago’s Field Museum, and her colleagues have used this strange fluorescence to help identify the leggy arthropods. — Jim Daley, Scientific American, "Millipede Genitalia Glow in Ultraviolet Light," 27 May 2019 There are shoes everywhere, boots and stilettos and platforms in all shades of nude (this season’s theme); plus neon lights and scented votives to give everything a soft fluorescence. — Alex Frank, Vogue, "Kendall Jenner On Loving Ugly Sneakers, Hating Boho Style, and the Fashion Secrets She Learned From Her Mom," 13 Feb. 2019 The polyacrylate was then bathed in molecules of fluorescein, an orange dye with a yellow-green fluorescence that's commonly used as a scientific marker. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Honey, I Shrunk Everything: MIT Scientists Can Shrink Objects to the Nanoscale," 18 Dec. 2018 Each nerve agent yields a slightly different color and brightness thanks to amazing fluorescence generating chemical sensors. — Allison Barrie, Fox News, "Innovative project harnesses Legos and smartphones in the fight against invisible, deadly weapons," 13 July 2018 This way, fluorescence is still generated in the plane of interest but not anywhere else and the end result is a crisp, clear image. — Jonathan Nylk, Scientific American, "Bendy Laser Beams Can Examine Human Tissue Like Never Before," 23 May 2018 Tadzio Koelb himself has made a novel worthy not only of New Jersey but of that exclusive fluorescence called art. — Tadzio Koelb, New York Times, "Step 1: Kill Husband. Step 2: Assume His Identity.," 11 May 2018 The warm chandelier lighting makes the place glow at night in a flickering candlestick kind of way that detoxes you from a day in fluorescence. — Bon Appetit, "Via Carota," 25 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fluorescence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near fluorescence

fluorescent brightener

fluorescent lamp

Statistics for fluorescence

Last Updated

22 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for fluorescence

The first known use of fluorescence was in 1852

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More Definitions for fluorescence

fluorescence

noun

flu·o·res·cence | \ -ˈes-ᵊn(t)s

Medical Definition of fluorescence

: luminescence that is caused by the absorption of radiation at one wavelength followed by nearly immediate reradiation usually at a different wavelength and that ceases almost immediately when the incident radiation stops also : the radiation emitted

Other Words from fluorescence

fluorescent \ -ˈes-ᵊnt

\ adjective

fluorescently adverb

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