noun
also saf·ra·nin or saf·fra·nine ˈsafrəˌnēn, -_nə̇n
( -s )
Usage: sometimes capitalized
Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary safran- (from French or German safran saffron) + -ine
: any of a class of red to blue azine dyes that for the most part are diamino derivatives of N -phenylphenazine: as
a. : phenosafranine
b. or safranine O or safranine T : a basic dye made by oxidation of a mixture of ortho -toluidine, para -tolyenediamine, and aniline and used chiefly in dyeing paper, as a desensitizer in photography, and as a biological stain — see dye table I (under Basic Red 2 )