metachromatism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “metachromatism” mean?
The property of certain dyes or substances to change colour, typically when applied to different tissues or under varying chemical conditions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The property of certain dyes or substances to change colour, typically when applied to different tissues or under varying chemical conditions.
In biology and histology, it refers specifically to the phenomenon where a stain or dye exhibits different colours when applied to different biological tissues or structures, often used in microscopy to differentiate cellular components. In broader chemistry, it can describe any reversible colour change in a substance due to a change in its physical environment, concentration, or chemical state.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or usage between British and American English. Both use the same scientific term identically.
Connotations
Purely technical and descriptive in both varieties; carries no regional connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, confined to very specific scientific texts and discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “metachromatism” in a Sentence
The dye exhibits metachromatism when applied to cartilage.Metachromatism is observed in certain toluidine blue stains.Researchers studied the metachromatism of the compound.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metachromatism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tissue section metachromatically stains with toluidine blue.
American English
- The dye metachromatically shifts from blue to purple.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in business contexts.
Academic
Used in advanced biology, histology, chemistry, and materials science papers and textbooks to describe staining properties.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Primary context: histology laboratories, microscopy techniques, dye manufacturing specifications, scientific research on staining.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metachromatism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “metachromatism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metachromatism”
- Misspelling as 'metachromitis' or 'metachromacy'.
- Confusing it with 'metamerism' (colour matching under different lights).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'it metachromates').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily used in biological staining techniques (histology) to differentiate and identify specific tissue components, like cartilage or mast cell granules, based on how they alter a dye's colour.
No, it is an extremely rare and highly specialised term used almost exclusively in scientific literature and laboratory settings.
While the phenomenon of colour change exists in nature (e.g., mood rings, chameleons), the specific technical term 'metachromatism' is not used to describe these everyday occurrences. It is reserved for the scientific context of dyes and stains.
Metachromatism refers to a colour change in a dye or stain caused by its chemical interaction with different substrates. Pleochroism is an optical property where a crystal appears different colours when viewed from different angles under polarised light. They are distinct phenomena from different scientific fields.
The property of certain dyes or substances to change colour, typically when applied to different tissues or under varying chemical conditions.
Metachromatism is usually technical/scientific in register.
Metachromatism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɛtəˈkrəʊmətɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɛtəˈkroʊməˌtɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No idioms exist for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a META-morphosing CHROMA (colour) - a change in colour state = METACHROMATISM.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOUR IS A RESPONSIVE STATE (the colour changes in response to its environment).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'metachromatism' most commonly used?