counterstain

[ noun koun-ter-steyn; verb koun-ter-steyn ]
/ noun ˈkaʊn tərˌsteɪn; verb ˌkaʊn tərˈsteɪn /
Histology

noun

a second stain of a different color applied to a microscopic specimen and used to color and contrast those parts not retaining the first stain.

verb (used with object)

to treat (a microscopic specimen) with a counterstain.

verb (used without object)

to become counterstained; take a counterstain.

Origin of counterstain

First recorded in 1890–95; counter- + stain

Example sentences from the Web for counterstain

British Dictionary definitions for counterstain

counterstain
/ (ˈkaʊntəˌsteɪn) /

verb microscopy

to apply two or more stains in sequence to (a specimen to be examined), each of which colours a different tissue
(tr; usually passive) to apply (one of a series of stains) to a specimen to be examined haematoxylin is counterstained with eosin

Medical definitions for counterstain

counterstain
[ kountər-stān′ ]

n.

A stain of a contrasting color used to color the components in a microscopic specimen that are not made visible by the principal stain.

Other words from counterstain

counter•stain′ v.