orcein
[ awr-see-in ]
/ ˈɔr si ɪn /
noun Chemistry.
a red dye, the principal coloring matter of cudbear and orchil, obtained by oxidizing an ammoniacal solution of orcinol.
Origin of orcein
1830–40; arbitrary alteration of
orcin; see
orcinol
Words nearby orcein
orby,
orc,
orca,
orcadian,
orcagna,
orcein,
orch.,
orchard,
orchard bush,
orchard grass,
orchard oriole
British Dictionary definitions for orcein
orcein
/ (ˈɔːsɪɪn) /
noun
a brown crystalline material formed by the action of ammonia on orcinol and present in orchil: used as a dye, biological stain, and antiseptic. Formula: C 28 H 24 O 7 N 2
Word Origin for orcein
C19: see
orcinol
Medical definitions for orcein
orcein
[ ôr′sē-ĭn ]
n.
A natural dye derived from orcinol and used in various histologic staining methods as a purple dye complex.