heterochromic
|het-er-o-chro-mic|
🇺🇸
/ˌhɛtərəˈkroʊmɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌhɛtərəˈkrɒmɪk/
different-colored
Etymology
'heterochromic' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'hetero-' and 'chroma', where 'hetero-' meant 'different' and 'chroma' meant 'color'.
'heterochromic' was formed by combining Greek roots (via Neo-Latin/technical coinage) into the adjective form: Greek 'heteros' + 'chroma' → Neo-Latin/combining form 'heterochrom-' + adjectival suffix '-ic' → modern English 'heterochromic'.
Initially it denoted simply 'different in color'; over time it has been used particularly in biological and medical contexts to describe differing eye colors (heterochromia) and more generally for objects showing distinct color differences.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having different colors; especially used of irises when the two eyes are different colors (showing heterochromia).
The dog was heterochromic, one eye a deep brown and the other clear blue.
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Adjective 2
displaying two or more distinct colors or color patterns (used in biological, geological, or descriptive contexts).
The mineral sample was heterochromic, showing bands of green and brown.
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Last updated: 2025/12/05 17:57