chromophore
noun
chro·mo·phore
ˈkrō-mə-ˌfȯr 
: a chemical group (such as an azo group) that absorbs light at a specific frequency and so imparts color to a molecule
also
: a colored chemical compound
Examples of chromophore in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Through a complicated biochemical process, the chromophore is added on to the protein, generating light.
—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
Scientists called it fluorescent rather than bioluminescent because a chromophore was never needed to produce the light.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
With far infrared instruments on JWST, teams at University of Leicester in the United Kingdom are hoping to locate such chromophores in the red spot.
—Shannon Stirone, WIRED, 30 June 2018
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
Scientists called it fluorescent rather than bioluminescent because a chromophore was never needed to produce the light.
—Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2011
With far infrared instruments on JWST, teams at University of Leicester in the United Kingdom are hoping to locate such chromophores in the red spot.
—Shannon Stirone, WIRED, 30 June 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chromophore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near chromophore
Cite this Entry
“Chromophore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chromophore. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
chromophore
noun
chro·mo·phore
ˈkrō-mə-ˌfō(ə)r, -ˌfȯ(ə)r
: a chemical group (as an azo group) that absorbs light at a specific frequency and so imparts color to a molecule
also
: a colored chemical compound
More from Merriam-Webster on chromophore
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chromophore
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