: any of various soluble glycoside pigments producing blue to red coloring in flowers and plants
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe plant pigment anthocyanin is responsible, and the intensity depends on the varietal’s tannin content.Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2021 Blueberries and strawberries contain anthocyanin (an-tho-SY-a-nin), a phytonutrient that may help dilate arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and reduce inflammation. Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2021 That encourages the production of a chemical called anthocyanin, which adds the red and purple colors in some species, like maples. Allison Chinchar, CNN, 3 Oct. 2020 According to Harvard Forest, anthocyanin and chlorophyll together can produce brownish colors in plant leaves, while anthocyanins and carotenoids can create a vibrant orange. Nora Mcgreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2020 Red and blue pigments, called anthocyanins, don’t taste as good as chlorophyll. Margaret Roach, New York Times, 15 May 2020 Elderberry fruits contain vitamin A, potassium, calcium, vitamin C and high levels antioxidants like anthocyanins, which give the fruit its color and may play a role in boosting overall health. Mary Pembleton, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020 The anthocyanin develops in different patterns and at different levels for each fruit, thus the brilliant color display that varies from orange to orange. Callie Blount, al, 31 Dec. 2019 Their pigmented inside comes from an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which is produced when oranges ripen over warm days and are harvested during much cooler temperatures. Callie Blount, al, 31 Dec. 2019 See More
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from German Anthocyanin, from Anthocyan, Anthokyan, an earlier name (from Greek antho- antho- + kyan-, in kyánōs "blue color") + -in -in entry 1 — more at cyan-
Note:Anthokyan was coined by the German pharmacist Ludwig Clamor Marquart (1804-81), in Die Farben der Blüthen (Bonn, 1835), p. 55: Anthokyan (von ἄνθος Blume, und κυάνωσις blaue Farbe) ist der färbende Stoff in der blauen, violetten und rothen und vermittelt ebenfalls die Farbe aller braunen und vieler pomeranzfarbigen Blumen ("Anthokyan [from ánthos flower, and kyánōsis blue color] is the coloring matter in blue, violet and red flowers, and imparts in any case color to all brown and many orange flowers"). A German form with the suffix -in and an English form with the suffix -ine were in use by the 1850's.
First Known Use
1853, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
anthocyanin
noun
an·tho·cy·a·nin ˌan(t)-thə-ˈsī-ə-nən
variants also anthocyan
-ˈsī-ən, -ˌan
: any of various soluble glycoside pigments producing blue to red coloring in flowers and plants