Pig"ment (?), n. [L. pigmentum, fr. the root of pingere to paint: cf. F.
pigment. See Paint, and cf. Pimento, Orpiment.]
1. Any material from which a
dye, a paint, or the
like, may be
prepared; particularly, the refined and purified coloring matter ready for mixing with an appropriate vehicle.
2.
(Physiol.) Any one of the colored substances found in animal and
vegetable tissues and
fluids, as bilirubin, urobilin, chlorophyll,
etc.
3. Wine flavored with species and honey. Sir W. Scott.
Pigment cell (Physiol.), a small cell containing coloring matter, as the pigmented epithelial
cells of the choroid and iris, or the pigmented connective tissue cells in the skin of
fishes, reptiles, etc.
Hear it pronounced