pigment

[ pig-muh nt ]
/ ˈpɪg mənt /

noun

a dry insoluble substance, usually pulverized, which when suspended in a liquid vehicle becomes a paint, ink, etc.
a coloring matter or substance.
Biology. any substance whose presence in the tissues or cells of animals or plants colors them.

verb (used with object)

to color; add pigment to.

verb (used without object)

to become pigmented; acquire color; develop pigmentation: a poor quality of paper that doesn't pigment well.

Origin of pigment

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin pigmentum paint, equivalent to pig- (stem of pingere to paint) + -mentum -ment

OTHER WORDS FROM pigment

hy·per·pig·ment·ed, adjective non·pig·ment·ed, adjective un·pig·ment·ed, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for pigment

British Dictionary definitions for pigment

pigment
/ (ˈpɪɡmənt) /

noun

a substance occurring in plant or animal tissue and producing a characteristic colour, such as chlorophyll in green plants and haemoglobin in red blood
any substance used to impart colour
a powder that is mixed with a liquid to give a paint, ink, etc

Derived forms of pigment

pigmentary, adjective

Word Origin for pigment

C14: from Latin pigmentum, from pingere to paint

Medical definitions for pigment

pigment
[ pĭgmənt ]

n.

A substance used as coloring.
Dry coloring matter, usually an insoluble powder to be mixed with water, oil, or another base to produce paint and similar products.
A substance that produces a characteristic color in tissue.
A medicinal preparation applied to the skin like paint.

v.

To color with pigment.

Scientific definitions for pigment

pigment
[ pĭgmənt ]

An organic compound that gives a characteristic color to plant or animal tissues and is involved in vital processes. Chlorophyll, which gives a green color to plants, and hemoglobin, which gives blood its red color, are examples of pigments.
A substance or material used as coloring.