chromatophore

American  

[kruh-mat-uh-fawr, -fohr, kroh-muh-tuh‑] / krəˈmæt əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, ˈkroʊ mə tə‑ /

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.

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chromatophore British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• chromatophoric adjective
• chromatophorous adjective

Etymology

Origin of chromatophore

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 • Nov. 17, 2024

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

From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden

Almost always green in consequence of the presence of a very large single chromatophore.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 4 "Finland" to "Fleury, Andre" by Various

Besides the pigment-cells just described, Heincke discovered another kind of chromatophore, which was filled with iridescent crystals.

From The Dawn of Reason or, Mental Traits in the Lower Animals by Weir, James