Definition of Luminescence

1. Noun. Light not due to incandescence; occurs at low temperatures.

Generic synonyms: Light, Visible Light, Visible Radiation
Specialized synonyms: Bioluminescence, Chemiluminescence
Derivative terms: Luminesce, Luminescent

2. Noun. Light from nonthermal sources.
Exact synonyms: Glow
Generic synonyms: Brightness, Brightness Level, Light, Luminance, Luminosity, Luminousness
Derivative terms: Glow, Luminesce, Luminescent

Definition of Luminescence

1. n. Any emission of light not ascribable directly to incandescence, and therefore occurring at low temperatures, as in phosphorescence and fluorescence or other luminous radiation resulting from vital processes, chemical action, friction, solution, or the influence of light or of ultraviolet or cathode rays, etc.

Definition of Luminescence

1. Noun. (context: physics) Any emission of light that cannot be attributed merely to the temperature of the emitting body. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Luminescence

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Luminescence

1. Production of light. (09 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Luminescence

luminances
luminant
luminants
luminaria
luminarias
luminaries
luminary
luminate
lumination
luminations
lumine
lumined
lumines
luminesce
luminesced
luminescence (current term)
luminescences
luminescent
luminescent proteins
luminesces
luminescing
luminiferous
lumining
luminism
luminisms
luminist
luminists
luminogenic
luminol
luminometer

Literary usage of Luminescence

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Journal of General Physiology by Society of General Physiologists, Rockefeller Institute, Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (1920)
"All luminous animals require oxygen for luminescence but it is not known whether they give off C02 as a result of the luminescence. ..."

2. The Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science (1897)
"Chemi-luminescence Substance in which it occurs. Phosphorus oxidising in moist air ; decaying wood ; decaying fish ; glowworm ; firefly ; marine organisms, ..."

3. Radiation, Light and Illumination: A Series of Engineering Lectures by Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1918)
"Some of the characteristic forms of luminescence at higher temperatures are ... As pyro-luminescence or heat-luminescence, must be considered all radiation, ..."

4. Radiation, Light and Illumination: A Series of Engineering Lectures by Charles Proteus Steinmetz (1909)
"So far, fluorescence and phosphorescence have not yet found any extended industrial application. 44. Some of the characteristic forms of luminescence at ..."

5. The Nature of Animal Light by Edmund Newton Harvey (1920)
"Many animals with intracellular luminescence have quite complicated luminous organs. It is an interesting fact that a great similarity ..."

6. The Theory of Optics by Paul Drude (1901)
"What is now the criterion by which it is possible to decide whether a luminous body shines by virtue of luminescence or by pure temperature radiation ? ..."

7. Principles of General Physiology by William Maddock Bayliss (1920)
"This phenomenon is known as chemi-luminescence and is not uncommon. It may be seen bv taking a mixture of 10 cc of 10 per cent, pyrogallol, ..."

8. Basic Studies in the Field of High-Temperature Engineering: Third by Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Nihon Genshiryoku Kenkyūjo, Nuclear Energy Agency (2004)
"It should be noted that the luminescence of the optical fibre itself was observed along with luminescence from specimens. ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Luminescence on Dictionary.com!Search for Luminescence on Thesaurus.com!Search for Luminescence on Google!Search for Luminescence on Wikipedia!