anthocyanin
|an-tho-cy-an-in|
🇺🇸
/ˌænθoʊˈsaɪənɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˌænθəˈsaɪənɪn/
plant pigment producing red/purple/blue colors
Etymology
'anthocyanin' originates from New Latin/modern scientific coinage, ultimately derived from Greek 'anthos' meaning 'flower' and 'kyanos' meaning 'dark blue' (with the chemical suffix '-in' used for substances).
'anthos' + 'kyanos' entered scientific nomenclature in the 19th century (e.g. French 'anthocyane' or 'anthocyanine') and was adopted into English scientific usage as 'anthocyanin' to name the group of pigments.
Initially the root terms referred specifically to 'flower' and 'dark blue', and early usage emphasized blue pigments in flowers; over time 'anthocyanin' came to denote the broader class of related pigments responsible for red, purple, and blue colors and their chemical derivatives.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
any of a class of water-soluble flavonoid pigments in plants that produce red, purple, or blue colors in flowers, fruits, and leaves and often act as antioxidants or play roles in stress/UV protection and pollinator attraction.
The bright red of many autumn leaves is caused by anthocyanins.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a specific chemical compound from the anthocyanin group (i.e., an individual molecule within that class).
Researchers isolated several anthocyanins from the berry extract and tested their antioxidant activity.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/24 07:30