1. Readily staining or absorbing dyes; having an affinity for color.
Usage: technical; biology

1. A cell or tissue that readily absorbs dyes or stains.
Usage: technical; biology

Examples

• The chromophil cells in the pituitary gland stain readily with basic dyes.
• Histologists use chromophil properties to identify different cell types under the microscope.
• The tissue sample showed strong chromophil characteristics when treated with the standard stain.
• Chromophil structures are easier to visualize in microscopy than chromophobe regions.
• The researcher examined the chromophil cells to determine their hormone-secreting function.