: the green photosynthetic pigment found chiefly in the chloroplasts of plants and occurring especially as a blue-black ester C55H72MgN4O5 or a dark green ester C55H70MgN4O6
called also respectivelychlorophyll a, chlorophyll b
2
: a waxy green chlorophyll-containing substance extracted from green plants and used as a coloring agent or deodorant
Recent Examples on the WebBut production of chlorophyll isn’t the same year round. Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 Chlorophyll, which is the chemical that gives many trees their green pigment, absorbs sunlight, but as days shorten, chlorophyll production stops and trees begin to stop. Claire Rafford, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Sep. 2022 That's when the green pigment known as chlorophyll fades, allowing all the beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows to show. Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2022 As the amount of daylight decreases and temperatures drop, trees slow their production of chlorophyll, which gives leaves their green color. Chelsey Lewis, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 Pistachios contain a unique makeup of powerful antioxidant compounds, including tocopherols, phylloquinone, carotenoids, chlorophyll and flavonoids. Stefani Sassos, Ms, Rdn, Cso, Cdn, Nasm-cpt, Good Housekeeping, 16 June 2022 Any perishable fruit or vegetable that is not cooled within a few hours of harvest will have already burned through much of its bounty of complex sugars, chlorophyll, Vitamin C, and other nutrients. Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2022 These colorways encourage photosynthesis in plants and chlorophyll absorption. Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 8 Aug. 2022 These waters are richer in chlorophyll, allowing plankton to bloom, which also draws in bait fish. Katie Hunt, CNN, 28 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
French chlorophylle, from chlor- + Greek phyllon leaf — more at blade