noun
also eryth·ro·sine ə̇ˈrithrəsə̇n, -ˌsēn
( -s )
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary erythr- + eosin, eosine
: any of several xanthene dyes that are made by iodination of fluorescein and that dye wool, cotton, and silk in reddish shades: as
a. : a brick-red powder C 20 H 6 I 4 Na 2 O 5 that is used especially in making organic pigments, in coloring foods, as a biological stain, and as a green photographic sensitizer; the sodium salt of tetraiodo-fluorescein — called also erythrosine bluish ; see dye table I (under Acid Red 51 )
b. : a yellowish brown powder C 20 H 8 I 2 Na 2 O 5 used especially in coloring solutions of drugs and as a biological stain; the sodium salt of diiodo-fluorescein — called also erythrosine yellowish ; see dye table I (under Acid Red 95, Solvent Red 73 )