fluorescence

/fluorescence/

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Fluorescence is a noun that describes a special kind of light. When a substance absorbs (takes in) energy from another source, like ultraviolet light, it can then emit (give off) light of a different color. This emitted light is what we call fluorescence.

Simple Explanation

Imagine a highlighter pen. When you shine a black light (which is invisible to our eyes) on it, the color of the ink glows brightly. This glowing is due to fluorescence.

Usage Instructions

• When to use: You can use "fluorescence" when talking about colors that shine or glow under certain lights. It is often used in science, art, and nature discussions.
• Example sentence: "The fluorescent colors of the jellyfish were beautiful when viewed in the dark."

Advanced Usage

In scientific contexts, fluorescence is often discussed in relation to chemistry, biology, and physics. For example, scientists study fluorescence to understand how certain materials behave when they absorb energy.

Word Variants

• Fluorescent (adjective): This describes something that exhibits fluorescence. For example, "fluorescent lights."
• Fluoresce (verb): This means to emit light due to fluorescence. For example, "The minerals will fluoresce when exposed to UV light."

Different Meanings

In everyday language, "fluorescence" mostly refers to the glowing effect. However, in scientific terms, it can be linked to specific processes in molecular biology, like the way certain markers are used to visualize cells under a microscope.

Synonyms

• Glow
• Shine
• Radiance
• Luminescence (though luminescence is a broader term that includes other types of light emission)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs that specifically use "fluorescence." However, you might hear phrases like "light up" or "shine bright," which convey a similar idea of emitting light.

Summary

Fluorescence is a fascinating phenomenon where materials absorb energy and then emit light in a different color.

Academic

Noun

1. light emitted during absorption of radiation of some other (invisible) wavelength