/luy"keuh peen'/ , n. Biochem.
a red crystalline substance, C 40 H 56 , that is the main pigment of certain fruits, as the tomato and paprika, and is a precursor to carotene in plant biosynthesis.
[ 1925-30; earlier lycop ( in ) ( Lycop ( ersicon ) tomato genus ( lýk ( os ) WOLF + -o- -O- + Persikón PEACH 1 ) + -IN 2 ) + -ENE ]