phycochrome

noun

phy·​co·​chrome

variants or less commonly phycochrom

ˈfīkəˌkrōm

plural -s

1

: a mixture of chlorophyll and phycocyanin that is the characteristic coloring matter of blue-green algae

2

: blue-green alga

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary phyc- + -chrome

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!