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Glite Dictionary
cyanine

cyanine

8.6
A bright man-made dye that makes cell parts or molecules glow in experiments
  • noun
  • /ˈsaɪəˌniːn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cianina
  • The scientist used a cyanine dye to enhance the visibility of the samples under the microscope.

Examples

  • Bluer and deeper than hyacinth blue or mazarine blue, stronger than cyanine blue.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Industry researchers developed a new cyanine formulation that improved imaging quality in medical applications.

  • In the lab, the team tested different concentrations of cyanine to determine its effectiveness in fluorescence imaging.

Synonyms

cyanine dye
vscyanine
  • Specialized
9.2

A man-made chemical with two linked rings used in photography and to stain cells

is broader and used across scientific imaging, staining, and fluorescent applications

Compounds

cyanine dye
  • Specialized
9.2

A man-made chemical with two linked rings used in photography and to stain cells

Surface Forms

cyanine singular
cyanines plural

Morphology

cyanine = cyan (semi-transparent) = cyan + ine

Formed from 'cyan' + the chemical/ adjectival suffix '-ine', so the word signals a relation to the blue colour class but denotes a specialized class of dyes rather than a general colour.

Etymology

Cyanine comes from the word cyan, a common English word for a bright blue color that goes back to a Greek word meaning 'dark blue', plus the chemical ending -ine. So, cyanine is basically a 'blue' dye, which explains why scientists use it as a bright or fluorescent stain in imaging.