hematoxylin

noun

he·​ma·​tox·​y·​lin ˌhē-mə-ˈtäk-sə-lən 

: a crystalline phenolic compound C₁₆H₁₄O₆ found in logwood and used chiefly in biological staining

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin Haematoxylon, plant genus

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hematoxylin

noun

he·​ma·​tox·​y·​lin ˌhē-mə-ˈtäk-sə-lən 

: a compound found in the wood of a tropical American tree and used chiefly as a biological stain

Medical Definition

hematoxylin

noun

he·​ma·​tox·​y·​lin

variants or chiefly British haematoxylin

ˌhē-mə-ˈtäk-sə-lən 

: a crystalline phenolic compound C₁₆H₁₄O₆ found in logwood and used chiefly as a biological stain because of its ready oxidation to hematein