methylene blue

noun

: a basic thiazine dye C₁₆H₁₈ClN₃S·3H₂O used especially as a biological stain, an antidote in cyanide poisoning, and an oxidation-reduction indicator

Examples of methylene blue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To gauge the fat content of the cream brought by farmers, the dairy would insert methylene blue in a sample and waited for its lactic acid to dissolve the color. —Joseph Berger, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

methylene blue

noun

meth·​y·​lene blue

ˌmeth-ə-ˌlēn-

: a dye used as a biological stain and to reverse the effects of cyanide poisoning

Medical Definition

methylene blue

noun

: a basic thiazine dye C₁₆H₁₈ClN₃S·3H₂O used in the treatment of methemoglobinemia, as an antidote in cyanide poisoning, as a biological stain, and as an oxidation-reduction indicator