chromatophore

[ kruh-mat-uh-fawr, -fohr, kroh-muh-tuh‑ ]

noun

1. Zoology. a cell containing pigment, especially one that through contraction and expansion produces a temporary color, as in cuttlefishes.
2. Botany. one of the colored plastids in plant cells.

chromatophore

/ ˈkrəʊmətəˌfɔː; ˌkrəʊməˈtɒfərəs /

noun

1. a cell in the skin of frogs, chameleons, etc, in which pigment is concentrated or dispersed, causing the animal to change colour
2. another name for chromoplast

Derived Forms

• ˌchromatoˈphoric, adjective

Other Words From

• chro·mat·o·phor·ic [kr, uh, -mat-, uh, -, fawr, -ik, ‑-, for, -ik, kroh, -m, uh, -t, uh, ‑], chro·ma·toph·or·ous [kroh-m, uh, -, tof, -er-, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chromatophore¹

First recorded in 1860–65; chromato- + -phore

Example Sentences

The hefty price of color camouflage may explain why many octopuses spend so much time hiding in dens, and why deep-sea octopuses—who live in extremely dark waters—have less vibrant chromatophore systems, the researchers suggest.

From Science Magazine

Ms. Rochambeau will be as surprised as anyone else when I stand up for the debate and use a word like chromatophore.

From Literature

Each one is also ringed with small muscles that allow the animal to clench shut or open wide each chromatophore.

From New York Times

Analyzing the proteins that the chromatophore cells were making, the team realized that reflectin was among them, and they confirmed with further lab work that it was distributed around the surface of the chromatophores.

From New York Times

Previous studies have shown that each chromatophore is controlled by multiple motor neurons that reach from the brain to muscles in the skin, and that each motor neuron controls several chromatophores.

From Nature