Gram's method
[ gramz ]
/ græmz /
noun (sometimes lowercase)
a method of staining and distinguishing bacteria, in which a fixed bacterial smear is stained with crystal violet, treated with Gram's solution, decolorized with alcohol, counterstained with safranine, and washed with water.
Compare Gram-negative, Gram-positive.
Origin of Gram's method
named after Hans C. J. Gram (1853–1938), Danish bacteriologist
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British Dictionary definitions for gram's method
Gram's method
noun
bacteriol a staining technique used to classify bacteria, based on their ability to retain or lose a violet colour, produced by crystal violet and iodine, after treatment with a decolorizing agentSee also Gram-negative, Gram-positive
Word Origin for Gram's method
C19: named after Hans Christian Joachim Gram (1853–1938), Danish physician
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