Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for chromatin. Search instead for chromizing.

chromatin

American  
[kroh-muh-tin] / ˈkroʊ mə tɪn /

noun

Cell Biology.

  1. 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

  1. 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 /

  1. 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

  • chromatinic adjective
  • chromatoid adjective

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.

The enzyme MOF places chemical tags called histone acetylations onto chromatin.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

By linking DNA folding, chromatin loops, gene regulation, and cell behavior, the research brings scientists closer to a more complete understanding of how genetic instructions work inside living cells.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2026

Approximately twenty years ago, Dr. Nestler's team began exploring epigenetic regulation, the chromatin modifications that allow environmental conditions to produce lasting changes in brain function.

From Science Daily • Dec. 13, 2025

These images provide a direct look at how chromatin fibers and nucleosomes are packaged within the droplet-like structures.

From Science Daily • Dec. 8, 2025

No one knew or understood the chemical structure of chromatin, but of the two “intimately mixed” components, proteins were vastly more familiar to biologists, vastly more versatile, and vastly more likely to be gene carriers.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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.