ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷+ˌjen, -jə̇n noun
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary chrom- + -gen
1. biochemistry : a precursor (as urobilinogen) of a pigment (as urobilin)
2. : a compound containing a chromophore that is not itself a dye but is capable of becoming one on introduction of an auxochromic group into the molecule
3. : a pigment-producing microorganism
many bacteria are chromogens