pig
ment
1
a dry substance that has to be mixed with a liquid to produce paint
Pigment is a substance that gives color to paints, inks, and other materials. It is made from finely ground natural, such as minerals, plants, or animals, or artificial materials and is used to produce a wide range of colors. Pigments come in various forms, including powders, pastes, and liquids, and are mixed with other materials that help them stick together or dissolve, to create colored products, such as paints or dyes. They are valued for their ability to provide vivid and lasting colors.
- The artist mixed the pigment with water to create vibrant paint.
- Red pigment was added to the mixture for a richer color.
- She ground the pigment into a fine powder before mixing.
- Blue pigment was rare and highly valued in ancient times.
- The workshop taught participants how to make their own pigment.
2
colorless or weakly colored biochemical compounds closely related to pigments, including precursors, intermediates, or degradation products involved in pigment biosynthesis or breakdown
- During early chlorophyll synthesis, several colorless precursors build up before the green pigment forms.
- The lab detected pale, colorless intermediates in the pathway that normally yields the red beetroot pigments.
- Some insects store colorless carotenoid metabolites that are later oxidized into visible pigments during maturation.
- The chemist isolated a colorless precursor that, when exposed to light and oxygen, converts into a dark brown pigment.
Synonyms:
3
a chemical compound in plants, animals, or microbes that produces a characteristic color in cells or tissues
- Chlorophyll is the primary pigment in leaves that gives them their green color and captures light for photosynthesis.
- The bird's bright plumage results from a combination of carotenoid pigments deposited in the feathers.
- Pathologists measured changes in skin pigment to monitor progression of the disorder.
- The red pigment in tomatoes intensifies as the fruit ripens and lycopene accumulates.
- Fungal pigments can protect spores from ultraviolet damage and aid identification in the lab.