thionine

[ thahy-uh-neen, ‐nin ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a dark-green crystalline powder, C 12 H 10 N 3 S, whose property of turning violet in solution is useful in microscopy as a biological stain.

thionine

/ ˈθaɪənɪn; -ˌnaɪn; ˈθaɪəʊˌniːn /

noun

1. a crystalline derivative of thiazine used as a violet dye to stain microscope specimens
2. any of a class of related dyes

Word History and Origins

Origin of thionine¹

First recorded in 1885–90; from Greek theîon “sulfur” ( thio- ( def ) ) + -ine ²( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of thionine¹

C19: by shortening, from ergothioneine, a crystalline betaine found in ergot and blood