noun
or basic color
: any of various chiefly synthetic dyes reacting as bases because of the presence of certain nitrogen-containing groups (as amino groups), producing clear brilliant colors that are not very fast to light, and being used in the form of water-soluble salts in the dyeing of textiles and as histological stains or as water-insoluble free bases as the coloring ingredient of certain products (as inks, plastics, or shoe polishes) — see dye table I