triarylmethane dye

noun

: any of a class of basic, acid, mordant acid, and direct dyes derived from triphenylmethane or diphenyl-naphthyl-methane usually by introduction of one or more auxochromic groups (as amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, or hydroxyl groups) and characterized in general by brilliance but not by fastness see triphenylmethane dye

Word History

Etymology

triaryl + methane

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