Phosphorus — This article is about the chemical element. For other uses, see Phosphorus (disambiguation). silicon ← phosphorus → sulfur … Wikipedia
phosphorus — /fos feuhr euhs/, n., pl. phosphori / feuh ruy /. 1. Chem. a solid, nonmetallic element existing in at least three allotropic forms, one that is yellow, poisonous, flammable, and luminous in the dark, one that is red, less poisonous, and less… … Universalium
Phosphorus — /fos feuhr euhs/, n. Phosphor. * * * Nonmetallic chemical element, chemical symbol P, atomic number 15. The ordinary allotrope, called white phosphorus, is a poisonous, colourless, semitransparent, soft, waxy solid that glows in the dark (see… … Universalium
Phosphorus cycle — The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere does not play a significant role in the… … Wikipedia
phosphorus cycle — circulation of phosphorus in various forms through nature. Of all the elements recycled in the biosphere, phosphorus is the scarcest and therefore the one most limiting in any given ecological system. It is indispensable to life, being… … Universalium
phosphorus — phos•pho•rus [[t]ˈfɒs fər əs[/t]] n. pl. pho•ri [[t] fəˌraɪ[/t]] 1) chem. a nonmetallic element existing in yellow, red, and black allotropic forms and an essential constituent of plant and animal tissue: used, in combined form, in matches and… … From formal English to slang
phosphorus — n. Chem. a non metallic element occurring naturally in various phosphate rocks and existing in allotropic forms, esp. as a poisonous whitish waxy substance burning slowly at ordinary temperatures and so appearing luminous in the dark, and a… … Useful english dictionary
Phosphorus — n. Chem. a non metallic element occurring naturally in various phosphate rocks and existing in allotropic forms, esp. as a poisonous whitish waxy substance burning slowly at ordinary temperatures and so appearing luminous in the dark, and a… … Useful english dictionary
NPK rating — NPK redirects here. For the company that uses the NPK stock symbol, see National Presto Industries. NPK rating (or N P K) is used to label fertilizer based on the relative content of the chemicals nitrogen(N), phosphorus(P), and potassium(K) that … Wikipedia
fertilizer — /ferr tl uy zeuhr/, n. 1. any substance used to fertilize the soil, esp. a commercial or chemical manure. 2. a person, insect, etc., that fertilizes an animal or plant: Bees are fertilizers of flowers. [1655 65; FERTILIZE + ER1] * * * Natural or… … Universalium