pigment

[ pig-muhnt ]

noun

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

verb (used with object)

1. to color; add pigment to.

verb (used without object)

1. to become pigmented; acquire color; develop pigmentation:

   a poor quality of paper that doesn't pigment well.

pigment

/ ˈpɪɡmənt /

noun

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

pigment

/ pĭg′mənt /

1. 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.
2. A substance or material used as coloring.

Derived Forms

• ˈpigmentary, adjective

Other Words From

• hyper·pigment·ed adjective
• non·pigment·ed adjective
• un·pigment·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pigment¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pigment¹

C14: from Latin pigmentum, from pingere to paint

Example Sentences

According to legend, Tyre is the place where purple pigment was first created - the dye crushed out of snail shells to embroider royal robes.

From BBC

Moreover, with cities increasingly opening up to newer cultures and people, indigenous methods of building - like using lime plaster in hotter climes - are being replaced with newer techniques like using cement or concrete, which do not absorb the blue pigment well.

From BBC

If pressed, some argue the indignation over the defacement itself betrays how little our culture values the planet when compared to inanimate works of canvas and pigment.

From Los Angeles Times

Spain’s 16th century conquest of Mexico created a huge and profitable European market for the rich pigment, hitherto unknown on that continent.

From Los Angeles Times

The plant is a ghost orchid - a rare flower with no leaves or chlorophyll - the green pigment that absorbs sunlight so that plants can turn it into energy.

From BBC

Related Words

• coloring
• dye
• stain
• tint