Chromophil

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. A cell or tissue that absorbs and retains dyes strongly, making it easily visible under a microscope
2. Tissue or a cellular element that takes up coloring matter readily and displays vivid pigmentation when stained
3. A component of living tissue that has an affinity for dyes and becomes distinctly colored during histological staining

Etymology: "Chromophil" is a scientific coinage, not an ancient word. It is built from two combining forms: "chromo-", from Greek "khrōma" meaning colour, and "-phile", from Greek "philos" meaning loving or fond of. Put together, a chromophil is something that has a strong affinity for colour, and the term is used in biology and microscopy for cells or tissues that readily take up stains. The "-phile" element follows the pattern of many scientific words in English, where "-phile" marks something drawn to or attracted by a particular substance or condition. Its spelling variant "chromophile" shows the same ending in the more common form of the suffix. Both spellings are in use, and the difference is one of spelling rather than meaning.