Phosphorous Meaning

/fˈɑsfərəs/
B2

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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adjOf or pertaining to phosphorus.

adjResembling phosphorus.

White phosphorous is highly reactive and can ignite easily.
The soil was found to be lacking in essential phosphorous.
Israel used banned white phosphorous weapons on Lebanon.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The lab technician handled the ____ compounds, which are highly reactive with oxygen.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ compound was highly reactive and had to be stored under water to prevent ignition.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- Proto-Indo-European *bʰéh₂os Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos Ancient Greek φᾰ́ος (phắos) Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs) Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Hellenic *pʰérō Ancient Greek φέρω (phérō) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Hellenic *-os Ancient Greek -ος (-os) Ancient Greek -φόρος (-phóros) Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros)bor. Latin phōsphorusbor. English phosphorus Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ōtsos or *-otsos Latin -ōsus Old French -usbor. Middle English -ous English -ous English phosphorous From phosphorus + -ous.

"As a former civilian resident of west Beirut, bombed with American-made phosphorous and cluster bombs by the Israelis, I am outraged by this." — 1991 April 6, Steve Rose, “A Human Drama”, in Gay Community News, page 5:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The lab technician handled the ____ compounds, which are highly reactive with oxygen.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ compound was highly reactive and had to be stored under water to prevent ignition.

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