Synonyms for
Phosphorus
Definition
a highly reactive, non-metallic element that is essential for life and is used in pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemical compounds
Synonyms & similar words
Common collocations
- phosphorus deficiency
- phosphorus cycle
- element phosphorus
- organic phosphorus
- inorganic phosphorus
- phosphorus pentoxide
- phosphorus compounds
Word family
noun phosphorus
adjective phosphoric
Usage note
Phosphorus is a chemical element and a nonmetal. It is not typically used metaphorically, so antonyms and informal/literary synonyms are generally not applicable.
Example sentences
- Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants.
- The use of phosphorus in fertilizers helps crops grow better.
- Phosphorus is also used in the production of chemicals and detergents.
- The matchstick contains phosphorus which helps ignite the flame.
- The glow of the lantern was created by phosphorus.
Quotes
Phosphorus is a first-rate soldier's element. It has an unquenchable thirst for combusting in air, and it loves to react with just about everything else in sight, especially with metals and oxygen. It is second only to carbon in its chemical versatility and its importance to life. - Sam Kean
The discovery of phosphorus is a classic example of serendipity in science. It was in 1669 that Hennig Brandt, a German merchant and alchemist, tried to convert ordinary metals into gold and instead obtained a white, waxy substance that glowed in the dark. He called it phosphorus from the Greek word phosphoros, meaning 'light-bringer'. - Pradeep Mathur