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rhodopsin

[ roh-dop-sin ]
/ roʊˈdɒp sɪn /

noun Biochemistry.

a bright-red photosensitive pigment found in the rod-shaped cells of the retina of certain fishes and most higher vertebrates: it is broken down by the action of dim light into retinal and opsin.

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Also called visual purple.

Origin of rhodopsin

1885–90; rhod- + Greek óps(is) sight, vision + -in2

Words nearby rhodopsin

rhodomontade, rhodonite, Rhodope, Rhodope Mountains, rhodophylaxis, rhodopsin, rhodora, Rhodos, Rhoecus, rhoicissus, rhomb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for rhodopsin

British Dictionary definitions for rhodopsin

rhodopsin
/ (rəʊˈdɒpsɪn) /

noun

a red pigment in the rods of the retina in vertebrates. It is dissociated by light into retinene, the light energy being converted into nerve signals, and is re-formed in the darkAlso called: visual purple See also iodopsin

Word Origin for rhodopsin

C20: from rhodo- + -opsis + -in
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

Medical definitions for rhodopsin

rhodopsin
[ rō-dŏp′sĭn ]

n.

A thermolabile protein that is sensitive to red light and is found in the external segments of the rods of the retina of the eye.visual purple
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.