pigmentation
Americannoun
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coloration in plants, animals, or man caused by the presence of pigments
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the deposition of pigment in animals, plants, or man
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of pigmentation
1865–70; < Late Latin pigmentāt ( us ) painted, colored ( see pigment, -ate 1) + -ion
Explanation
Pigmentation is the natural tint or color of any living thing. The black pigmentation on your dog's tongue is one clue that she may be part chow chow. Use this fancy word to mean "color," especially when you're talking about plants or animals (including people). The bright green pigmentation of a tree on your block changes to deep orange by mid-October. And the pigmentation in your skin may be slightly darker than your brother's. The word pigmentation comes from pigment and the Latin pingere, "to color or paint," a root it shares with the English word paint.
Vocabulary lists containing pigmentation
"How It Feels to Be Colored Me"
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Vocabulary from Readings 2, Unit 4
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Lessons 9–10
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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.
The Einzigers also collaborated with Dr. Pearl Grimes, director of the Vitiligo & Pigmentation Institute of Southern California, who specializes in vitiligo and pigmentation disorders.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2024
Pigmentation would not necessarily shield us from the effects of ionizing radiation, though.
From Scientific American • Aug. 3, 2018
Figure 5.8 Skin Pigmentation The relative coloration of the skin depends of the amount of melanin produced by melanocytes in the stratum basale and taken up by keratinocytes.
From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013
Ulcers associated with Varicose Veins and Pigmentation of the Skin.
From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis
Pigmentation is common; the face becomes dusky red, the rest of the body a dark brown shade.
From Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Robertson, W. G. Aitchison (William George Aitchison )
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.
