chromoplast: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Very Low Frequency / Specialized)Technical / Academic (Botany, Cell Biology, Plant Physiology)
Quick answer
What does “chromoplast” mean?
A plant cell plastid that contains pigments other than chlorophyll, giving colour to flowers, fruits, roots, or senescent leaves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plant cell plastid that contains pigments other than chlorophyll, giving colour to flowers, fruits, roots, or senescent leaves.
A specialized organelle in plant cells responsible for synthesizing and storing carotenoid pigments (red, orange, yellow), crucial for attracting pollinators, seed dispersal, and photoprotection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. Usage is identical in both scientific communities.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no regional connotative variance.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside specialised biological texts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “chromoplast” in a Sentence
The chromoplast contains [pigment].[Plant part] owes its colour to chromoplasts.Chromoplasts develop from [precursor].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chromoplast” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- chromoplastic differentiation
- chromoplastic pigments
American English
- chromoplastic structures
- chromoplastic development
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Core term in plant cell biology and horticulture studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; limited to advanced gardening or educational contexts.
Technical
Essential for describing the biochemistry of colour in fruits like tomatoes, peppers, and carrots.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chromoplast”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chromoplast”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chromoplast”
- Misspelling as 'chromplast' or 'chromoplastid'.
- Using it as a general term for any colourful plant part instead of the specific organelle.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and are green, specializing in photosynthesis. Chromoplasts contain non-green pigments (carotenoids) and specialize in colouration for attraction and protection.
Generally, no. The differentiation from chloroplast to chromoplast during ripening is considered largely irreversible, a terminal differentiation.
No, they are specific to certain tissues (flowers, fruits, some roots, senescent leaves) and are not found in all plant cells or all plant species.
Carotenoids, which produce yellow, orange, and red colours. Some chromoplasts may also contain other pigments.
A plant cell plastid that contains pigments other than chlorophyll, giving colour to flowers, fruits, roots, or senescent leaves.
Chromoplast is usually technical / academic (botany, cell biology, plant physiology) in register.
Chromoplast: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrəʊmə(ʊ)plɑːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkroʊməˌplæst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CHROMA (colour) + PLAST (shape/form/organelle). An organelle that gives 'colour form' to plant tissues.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FACTORY FOR COLOUR: A specialized, internal factory that manufactures and stores the paints (pigments) for a plant's display.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a primary function of a chromoplast?