carbocyanine

noun

car·​bo·​cy·​a·​nine

¦kär(ˌ)bōˈsīəˌnēn,

-nə̇n

variants or carbocyanine dye

plural -s

: any of a class of cyanine dyes in whose structure the two heterocyclic rings are joined by a three-carbon chain (as =CH−CH=CH−)

specifically : any such dye containing two quinoline rings

called also trimethine

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary carb- + cyanine; originally formed as German karbozyanin

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!