Word · Frequency #16653
phosphorus
磷
a reactive nonmetallic chemical element that occurs in phosphate rocks and in all living cells, and exists in several allotropic forms
- 1.
A chemical element (symbol P) with an atomic number of 15, that exists in several allotropic forms.
启明星；金星；磷光体；[化] 磷P
In use
Phosphorus is used in the production of matches.
Plants need phosphorus from the soil to grow well.
White phosphorus is highly reactive and must be stored under water.
[noun] occurs in [place]
occur in 常用来表示元素或物质存在于某处。
Phosphorus occurs in phosphate rocks.
磷存在于磷酸盐岩石中。
[noun] occurs as [form]
occur as 表示以某种形式存在，as 后接名词或名词短语。
Phosphorus occurs as organic phosphates in living cells.
磷以有机磷酸盐的形式存在于活细胞中。
[noun] is [adjective]
be + 形容词 可用来描述物质的化学性质，如反应性。
Phosphorus is highly reactive.
磷非常活泼。
Common mistakes
Phosphorous is a chemical element.Phosphorus is a chemical element.
phosphorus 是名词，表示元素磷；而 phosphorous 是形容词，意为“含磷的”。此处需要名词作主语，因此应使用 phosphorus。注意词尾 -us 为名词，-ous 为形容词。
The match head contains a phosphorus.The match head contains phosphorus.
chemical element phosphorus 指物质时是不可数名词，前面不能用不定冠词 a/an，也不能加复数。这里应去掉 a，直接用 phosphorus 表示“磷”。
Connections
Collocations
- white phosphorus
- 白磷
- White phosphorus ignites spontaneously in air.白磷在空气中自燃。
- red phosphorus
- 红磷
- Red phosphorus is used in the striking surface of matchboxes.红磷用于火柴盒的摩擦面。
- phosphorus cycle
- 磷循环
- The phosphorus cycle is essential for plant growth.磷循环对植物生长至关重要。
- phosphorus content
- 磷含量
- This fertilizer has a high phosphorus content.这种肥料磷含量很高。
- phosphorus levels
- 磷水平
- Doctors monitor phosphorus levels in patients with kidney disease.医生监测肾病患者体内的磷水平。
Confusing words
Learner notes
Memory Tip
磷会发光。记住 phosphorus 开头 phos，像夜幕里的鬼火一闪一闪。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：chemistry class、scientific paper、industrial chemistry 作为化学元素名称（磷），通常用于学术、教学或工业语境，日常对话中较少出现。
Grammar Note
物质名词通常不可数；词典列有复数 phosphoruses，异体 phosphori，仅在指多种形态等罕见场合使用。
Pronunciation & Spelling
No common word fully rhymes with /ˈfɒsfərəs/. Phosphor (/ˈfɒsfər/) shares the same first two syllables. Chorus (/ˈkɔːrəs/) and porous (/ˈpɔːrəs/) look like they should rhyme but have no /f/ and a different vowel; they are useful spelling lookalikes only. For the ph = /f/ spelling, compare phonics (/ˈfɒnɪks/) and phobia (/ˈfəʊbiə/).
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.