/ ˌkrəʊməˈtɒgrəfi; NAmE ˌkroʊməˈtɑːg-/ noun
[ U ] ( chemistry ) the separation of a mixture by passing it through a material through which some parts of the mixture travel further than others
► chro·ma·to·graph·ic / krəʊˌmætəˈgræfɪk; NAmE ˌkroʊ-/ adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
1930s: from German Chromatographie (from chromato- , from Greek khrōma , khrōmat- colour and -graphy , from or suggested by Greek -graphia writing), early separations being displayed as a number of coloured bands or spots.