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Glite Dictionary
photopigment

photopigment

7.7
A colored substance in the eye that absorbs light and helps the eye see
  • noun
  • /ˈfoʊtoʊˌpɪɡmənt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : fotopigmento
  • Each rod has at its tip a segment that contains rhodopsin photopigment, a substance that changes chemically in the presence of light.

Examples

  • The photopigment in the rods of the retina helps to detect light and initiates the process of vision.

  • Rhodopsin is a key photopigment that enables our eyes to perceive images in low-light conditions.

  • When exposed to light, the photopigment in our cones changes, allowing us to see colors clearly.

Synonyms

retinal
vsphotopigment
  • Specialized
6.8

A red-yellow substance in the retina that helps the eye detect light

focuses on absorbing light in rods and cones to start the vision process

Surface Forms

photopigment singular
photopigments plural

Morphology

photopigment = pigment (semi-transparent) = photo + pigment

The word is built transparently from 'photo' meaning light and 'pigment', but the specialized retinal sense is technical rather than immediately obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

Photopigment comes from photo- meaning 'light' and pigment meaning 'colour' or 'paint'. So a photopigment is like a 'light-colour' in the eye that changes when light hits it and starts the process of seeing.