Chromatophilic

/ˌkroʊmətəˈfɪlɪk/ adjective

Definition

Readily taking up or staining with dyes and pigments; having an affinity for colored substances.

Etymology

From 'chromatophilia' + suffix '-ic' (relating to). The adjectival form used to describe structures with color-attracting properties.

Kelly Says

Cancer cells are often intensely chromatophilic—they grab dyes so eagerly that they show up darker under a microscope than normal cells, which was one of the first ways pathologists could spot tumors.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.