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phycocyanin

American  
[fahy-koh-sahy-uh-nin] / ˌfaɪ koʊˈsaɪ ə nɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

  1. a blue protein pigment, found in algae, involved in the process of photosynthesis.

Etymology

Origin of phycocyanin

First recorded in 1870–75; phyco- + cyan- 1 + -in 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Named after the blue-green pigment they use for this process, called phycocyanin, cyanobacteria also make oxygen and are given the credit for creating Earth's atmosphere about 2.4bn years ago.

From The Guardian • Jan. 8, 2013

Named after the blue-green pigment they use for this process, called phycocyanin, cyanobacteria also make oxygen and are given the credit for creating Earth’s atmosphere about 2.4 billion years ago.

From Washington Post • Dec. 31, 2012

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.