chromatin

American

[kroh-muh-tin] / ˈkroʊ mə tɪn /

noun

Cell Biology.

the readily stainable substance of a cell nucleus, consisting of DNA, RNA, and various proteins, that forms chromosomes during cell division.

chromatin British

/ ˈkrəʊmətɪn /

noun

cytology the part of the nucleus that consists of DNA and proteins, forms the chromosomes, and stains with basic dyes See also euchromatin heterochromatin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

chromatin Scientific

/ krō′mə-tĭn /

The substance distributed in the nucleus of a cell that condenses to form chromosomes during cell division. It consists mainly of DNA and proteins called histones.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of chromatin

First recorded in 1880–85; chromat- + -in ²

Compare meaning

How does chromatin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Vocabulary lists containing chromatin

Cell Biology - Middle School

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Cell Biology - High School

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Genetics - High School

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

See Examples For:

chromatin

Smaller structures known as chromatin loops, however, told a different story.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

That distinction became even clearer when the team studied chromatin, the material that packages DNA inside cells and helps control which genes are available for use and which remain inaccessible.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026

"Surprisingly, we discovered this collapse happens at every level of genome organization -- compartments, domains, and chromatin loops."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

One of the most promising applications of this approach lies in understanding chromatin, the complex structure of DNA and proteins inside cells.

From Science Daily ● May 6, 2026

The allegiances shifted: the handmaiden of chromatin was suddenly its queen.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

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