fuchsin

[ fook-sin ]

noun

1. a greenish, water-soluble, solid, coal-tar derivative, obtained by the oxidation of a mixture of aniline and the toluidines, that forms deep-red solutions: used chiefly as a dye.

fuchsin

/ -sɪn; ˈfuːksɪn; ˈfuːksiːn /

noun

1. a greenish crystalline substance, the quaternary chloride of rosaniline, forming a red solution in water: used as a textile dye and a biological stain. Formula: C 20 H 19 N 3 HCl Also calledmagenta

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuchsin¹

First recorded in 1860–65; fuchs(ia) + -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuchsin¹

C19: from fuchs ( ia ) + -in ; from its similarity in colour to the flower

Example Sentences

The essential features are to obtain a dry, thin layer of a selected portion of the suspected sputum, which is then to be deeply stained with fuchsin or methyl-violet; the excess of color is to be removed with nitric acid, and the preparation is then ready for examination with the microscope.

From Project Gutenberg

If the bacilli are stained red with fuchsin, the background should be made blue.

From Project Gutenberg

A saturated alcoholic solution of methyl-violet or fuchsin is made and filtered, and added, drop by drop, to a filtered, saturated solution of aniline oil shaken in water.

From Project Gutenberg

Saturated, watery methyl-green solution is mixed with alcoholic fuchsin.

From Project Gutenberg

The stain, which only requires a small fixation, is completed in a few minutes, and colours the nuclei green, the red blood corpuscles red, the protoplasm of the leucocytes fuchsin colour.

From Project Gutenberg