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Glite Dictionary
basic dye

basic dye

5.3
A positively charged stain used to colour acidic parts of cells
  • noun
  • Specialized
: tinte básico
  • The scientist used a basic dye to stain the cell nuclei for easier observation under the microscope.

Examples

  • Methylene blue is a well-known example of a basic dye used in biological staining.

  • Unlike acid dyes, basic dyes are attracted to the acidic structures within cells.

  • The basic dye worked perfectly.

  • The scientist used a basic dye to stain the cells.

  • Methylene blue is a well-known example of a basic dye used in biological staining.

  • The scientist used a basic dye to stain the cell nuclei for easier observation under the microscope.

  • Unlike acid dyes, basic dyes are used to stain cellular structures due to their attraction to acidic components.

Synonyms

dyestuff
vsbasic dye
1 7.7

A substance used to add color to cloth and hair

is a specific positively charged type used mainly to stain acidic biological components
basic color
vsbasic dye
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A dye with a positive charge that sticks to acid parts and stains cells and fabrics

is the same chemical type but emphasises staining acidic parts in biological specimens

Surface Forms

basic dye singular
basic dyes plural

Morphology

basic + dye

The phrase is compositionally built: a learner who knows 'basic' means alkaline and 'dye' means a colouring substance can infer this is a dye with basic (alkaline) properties. While the definition adds technical details about positive ions and staining acidic components, the core meaning (‘a dye that is basic/alkaline’) is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Basic dye comes from how the basic part is 'positively charged' and is attracted to 'acidic' parts of cells. A basic dye is like a tiny 'positive' paint that sticks to those 'acidic' areas, so it makes them easy to see under a microscope.