Amphophilic

/ˌæmfəˈfɪlɪk/ adjective

Definition

Describing cells or tissues that attract and absorb both acidic and basic stains with similar affinity.

Etymology

From 'amphophil' or 'amphophile' plus '-ic'. The adjectival form used to describe this dual-staining property in histology and cell biology.

Kelly Says

This one adjective tells pathologists so much: if they see amphophilic tissue, they know they're looking at cells rich in RNA and protein with active metabolism—it's a biological high-five visible under a microscope.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.