chlorophyll

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any of the green pigments that absorb light for photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria

   Chlorophyll absorbs mainly red and blue light during photosynthesis.

Borrowed from French chlorophylle, coined from Greek khloros ("pale green, greenish yellow") + phyllon ("leaf"). The name literally evokes "green leaf" and was applied to the pigments responsible for plants' green color and light absorption.

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