1. exhibiting metachromatism; showing a change in color when stained with certain dyes
Usage: biology; chemistry

Examples

• The metachromatic granules in the bacterial cells appeared purple under the microscope.
• Metachromatic staining revealed the presence of sulfated polysaccharides in the tissue.
• The pathologist identified metachromatic material in the nerve biopsy.
• Metachromatic leukodystrophy affects the white matter of the brain.
• The laboratory used toluidine blue to demonstrate metachromatic properties.
• Cartilage matrix shows metachromatic staining with certain basic dyes.