An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

A constellation in the southern hemisphere, at 0h 30m → right ascension, 50° south → declination. Its brightest star Alpha Phoenicis is of magnitude 2.4. Abbreviation: Phe; genitive: Phoenicis.

L. Phoenix, also phenix, from Gk. phoinix a mythical bird of great beauty which according to one account lived 500 years, burned itself to ashes on a pyre, and rose alive from the ashes to live another period.

Qoqnos, from Ar., from Gk., as above, or, for some reasons (mistake?), from Gk. kuknos, → Cygnus.

A speech sound considered as a physical event without regard to its place in the sound system of a language.

From Gk. phone "voice, sound," phonein "to speak;" cf. L. fama "talk, reputation, fame."

Âva "voice, sound," related to âvâz "voice, sound, song" (both prefixed forms), bâng "voice, sound, clamour" (Mid.Pers. vâng), vâžé "word," variants vâj-, vâk-, vâ-, vâz-, vât-; Av. vacah- "word," vaocanghê "to decalre" (by means of speech), from vac- "to speak, say;" cf. Skt. vakti "speaks, says," vacas- "word;" Gk. epos "word;" L. vox "voice;" PIE base *wek- "to speak."

The smallest phonetic unit in a language that can distinguish one word from another.

From Fr. phonème, from Gk. phonema "speech sound, utterance," from phonein "to sound," → phone.

Vâj "voice," variant of vâž, vâz-, âvâz etc., → phone.

A branch of linguistics dealing with the analysis, description, and classification of speech sounds. More specifically, phonetics deals with the physical production of → phonemes regardless of language, while → phonology studies how those sounds are put together to create meaningful words in a particular language.

From phonetic, from N.L. phoneticus, from Gk. phonetikos "vocal," from phonet(os) "utterable," verbal adj. of phonein "to speak clearly, utter," from → phone + -ikos, → -ics.

Âvâyik, from âvâ, → phone, + -ik, → -ics.

The branch of medical science dealing with the study and treatment of voice disorders.

From Gk. phon-, → phone; → -iatrics.

A combining form meaning "sound, voice," used in the formation of compound words. Also phon-, especially before a vowel.

From Gk. phon-, phono-, form → phone "voice, sound, speech"

A branch of linguistics that studies the rules in any given language that govern how → phonemes are combined to create meaningful words. Phonology and → phonetics study two different aspects of sound, but the concepts are dependent on each other in the creation of language.

→ phono-; → -logy.

A quantum of vibrational or acoustic energy in a crystal lattice, being the analog of a photon of electromagnetic energy.

→ phono- + → -on.

A colorless, flammable, and explosive gas at ambient temperature with unpleasant smell of rotten fish or garlic. Named also hydride of phosphorus (PH₃), it is highly poisonous in nature. On cooling to 185.5 K, phosphine condenses to a liquid and on cooling to 139.5 K, it solidifies. By heating in the absence of air at 713 K or by passing an electric spark through it, phosphine breaks into its elements. Small amounts occur naturally from the break down of organic matter. It is heavier than air and slightly soluble in water. Phosphine is used in semiconductor and plastics industries, in the production of a flame retardant, and as a pesticide in stored grain. Phosphine has two strong absorption bands in → infrared at 10 and 9 μm.

From phosph-, variant of phospho-, denoting → phosphorus, used before a vowel + suffix -ine, ultimately from L. -inus, used to form names of chemical substances, especially basic (alkaline) substances, alkaloidal substances, or halogen elements.

A specific type of → photoluminescence that continues for an appreciable time after the stimulating process has ceased. Phosphorescence is due to the existence of metastable → excited states of the atoms and molecules from which a change to the normal state is hindered for some reason or other. The change from the → metastable metastable state to the normal one becomes possible only as a result of some additional excitation, for example the application of heat.

→ phosphorus; → -escence.

1) Nonmetallic chemical element; symbol P. → Atomic number 15; → atomic weight 30.97376; → melting point 44.1°C; → boiling point about 280°C. It was discovered by the German merchant Hennig Brand in 1669.
2) Greek name for the planet → Venus when it appears as a → morning star.

L. Phosphorus "morning star," from Gk. Phosphoros "morning star," literally "light bearing," from phos "light" + phoros "bearer," from pherein "to carry," cognate with Pers. bordan "to carry, lead" (→ periphery). The chemical element is such called because of its white color.

1) Fosfor, loan from Fr.
2) → morning star.

The supersymmetric partner of the → photon.

From phot, from → photon + -ino supersymmetric particle suffix.

From Gk. combining form of phos (genitive photos).

Šid- "light, sunlight," from Mid.Pers. šÃªt "shining, radiant, bright;" Av. xšaēta- "shining, brilliant, splendid, excellent."
Nur-, → light.

A situation in which all of the energy of a photon is transferred to an atom, molecule, or nucleus.

→ photo- + → absorption.

Electrode capable of releasing electrons when illuminated.

→ photo- + → cathode.

The study of the chemical and physical changes occurring when a molecule or atom absorbs photons of light.

→ photo- + → chemistry.

Th desorption of surface substances by ultraviolet radiation.

→ photo-; → desorption.

The process by which atomic nuclei are broken apart into their constituent protons and neutrons by the impact of high energy gamma photons. Photodisintegration takes place during the core collapse phase of a → Type II supernova explosion.

→ photo- + → disintegration.

To dissociate a → molecule by → radiation. See also → photodissociation.

→ photo-; → dissociate.

The → dissociation of a → chemical compound by → radiation  → energy.

Verbal noun of → photodissociate; → -tion.