Describes something that shines a little in the dark and gives off almost no heat — not a fire, more a cold ghost-light. Glow-in-the-dark paint, some minerals, some sea creatures.

Describes something that shines a little in the dark用來形容在黑暗裡會發出微光的東西 and gives off almost no heat而且幾乎不散發熱量——not a fire不是火, more a cold ghost-light比較像是冷冷的幽光。Glow-in-the-dark paint夜光漆, some minerals一些礦物, some sea creatures一些海洋生物。

Scientists are picky: the thing should keep glowing after the light that “charged” it is gone. Everyday speakers just mean “it glows in the dark”.

Scientists are picky科學家比較講究: after the light that "charged" it is gone在「充能」它的光消失之後, the thing should keep glowing這東西應該要繼續發光。Everyday speakers日常說話的人 just mean意思就只是 "it glows in the dark"「它在黑暗裡會發光」。

One surprise worth saying out loud: phosphorus, the element, is not phosphorescent, even though the words look as if they must go together. Some mixes with phosphorus can light up from a chemical reaction, but that is a different kind of glow.

One surprise worth saying out loud有件值得說出來的意外事: phosphorus, the element元素磷（phosphorus）, is not phosphorescent並不是phosphorescent（會發磷光）的, even though the words look as if they must go together儘管這兩個字看起來理應是一夥的。Some mixes with phosphorus有些含磷的混合物 can light up from a chemical reaction可以因化學反應而發光, but that is a different kind of glow但那是另一種發光方式。

Rarely, people use phosphorescent as a noun for a glowing substance; the adjective is the usual meeting place.

Rarely很少見地, people use phosphorescent as a noun for a glowing substance有人會把phosphorescent當名詞用來指會發光的物質; the adjective is the usual meeting place但形容詞才是大家常用的用法。