biliverdin

noun

bil·​i·​ver·​din ˌbi-li-ˈvər-dᵊn 

ˈbi-li-ˌvər-

: a green pigment that occurs in bile and is an intermediate in the degradation of hemoglobin heme groups to bilirubin

Examples of biliverdin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the puppies, who's since earned the name Shamrock, was born with a dark green colored coat due to biliverdin, a bile pigment that sometimes mixes with a pup's amniotic fluid, causing a baby canine to be born green. —Rachel Flynn, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025

Rare White Deer Sighting Turns Student's Trip into a 'Fairytale' The coloring, which wore off over several weeks, was caused by biliverdin. —Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024

The substance making these little reptiles viridescent is biliverdin, a pigment that triggers jaundice in humans. —Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2020

Green-blooded skinks have 20 times more biliverdin in their bodies than the highest level of the chemical ever found in a human—and for that person, the quantity was fatal. —Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2020

The strange pigmentation is believed to occur when pale puppies come in contact with biliverdin in their mother's wound, according to Reuters. —Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2020

When red cells die, the body converts the hemoglobin down into somewhat less toxic compounds including the green pigment biliverdin. —Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019

Hundreds of malaria parasites infect lizards, and some studies have shown that biliverdin can block the growth of the parasite that causes the illness, as well as killing infected red blood cells. —Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 20 May 2018

The liver then gathers them and takes out the iron, creating the green waste product biliverdin, which is later transformed further into yellow bilirubin. —Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 17 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Swedish, from Latin bilis + obsolete French verd green

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biliverdin

• overburden
• bourdon
• burden
• unburden

Medical Definition

biliverdin

noun

bil·​i·​ver·​din ˌbil-i-ˈvərd-ᵊn, ˈbil-i-ˌ 

: a green pigment C₃₃H₃₄N₄O₆ that occurs in bile and is an intermediate in the degradation of hemoglobin heme groups to bilirubin