Xanthophyls

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of pigment found in plants, specifically carotenoids, that are responsible for yellow and brown colors in leaves and fruits
2. These pigments, related to carotenoids, contribute to the yellow hues in various plant tissues and play a role in photosynthesis
3. Xanthophylls are important plant pigments that not only add color but also assist in light absorption and photoprotection in chloroplasts

Etymology: "Xanthophylls" is the plural of "xanthophyll," a name built from two Greek words: "xanthos," meaning yellow, and "phyllon," meaning leaf. The literal sense is "yellow leaf," which suits pigments responsible for the golden and brown tones in autumn foliage and ripe fruit. The second element is one many people already know. "Phyllon" is also the source of "phyllo" pastry, whose Greek name means leaf because the dough is rolled into paper-thin sheets. The same ending appears in "chlorophyll," where the first part, "chloros," means green. The green pigment and its yellow relatives share a leaf-based name, differing only in the colour word in front.