metachromatic

adjective

meta·​chro·​mat·​ic ˌme-tə-krō-ˈma-tik 

1

: staining or characterized by staining in a different color or shade from what is typical

metachromatic granules in a bacterium

2

: having the capacity to stain different elements of a cell or tissue in different colors or shades

metachromatic stains

Examples of metachromatic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The couple’s children were born with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), which causes muscle weakness, progressive loss of vision and eventual paralysis. — Diane Moca, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022

So much has changed for them since the early months of the pandemic, when the couple's middle daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called metachromatic leukodystrophyf, or MLD. — Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, The Arizona Republic, 5 Sep. 2020

My daughter Calliope has a terminal illness called metachromatic leukodystrophy. — Maria Kefalas, STAT, 2 Dec. 2019

The four-year-old has a rare disease called metachromatic leukodystrophy that could rob him of the ability to walk, sit and hold up his own head within the next year. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, 18 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for metachromatic

• adiabatic
• aristocratic
• asymptomatic
• axiomatic
• diagrammatic
• diaphragmatic
• electrostatic
• endolymphatic
• epigrammatic
• homeostatic
• idiomatic
• magnetostatic

Medical Definition

metachromatic

adjective

meta·​chro·​mat·​ic -krō-ˈmat-ik 

1

: staining or characterized by staining in a different color or shade from what is typical

metachromatic granules

2

: having the capacity to stain different elements of a cell or tissue in different colors or shades

metachromatic stains

metachromatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb