metachromatic, a.
(ˌmɛtəkrəʊˈmætɪk)
[f. meta- + Gr. χρῶµα, χρωµατ- colour + -ic.]
1. Pertaining to metachromism.
| 1876 Chem. News 11 Feb. 60/2 From a study of the two classes [of metachromes] the following metachromatic scale was arrived at:—White, colourless, violet, indigo, blue [etc.]. |
2. Biol. Exhibiting or involving metachromasia.
| 1897 Muir & Ritchie Man. Bacteriol. i. 11 It is..very probable that the occurrence of metachromatic granules in a bacterium indicates the onset of degenerative changes. 1902 Jrnl. R. Microsc. Soc. 89 (heading) Metachromatic granules in sporiferous bacteria. 1925 C. H. Browning Bacteriol. ii. 29 Sometimes with methylene-blue these beads stain of a different tint from the rest of the bacillus (metachromatic staining). 1957 New Biol. XXIV. 52 Structures which change the colour of the stain in this way are said to be metachromatic. 1964 W. G. Smith Allergy & Tissue Metabolism iii. 36 Metachromatic staining of the faded granules began. |
Hence metachroˈmatically adv.
| 1908 Anatomical Rec. II. 106 Sections from such material stained in toluidene blue show the mucous secretion metachromatically stained, but no metachromatism is visible in the demilune cells. 1957 New Biol. XXIV. 54 Polysaccharides of high molecular weight other than heparin stain metachromatically. 1971 Nature 24 Sept. 264/2 The lipid mass was stained metachromatically pale orange-brown with cresyl violet..and thionin. |