Chromatin

//ˈkɹəʊmətɪn// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A complex of DNA, RNA and proteins within the cell nucleus out of which chromosomes condense during cell division. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    the readily stainable substance of a cell nucleus consisting of DNA and RNA and various proteins; during mitotic division it condenses into chromosomes wordnet

Etymology

Borrowed from German Chromatin, from (combining form of) Ancient Greek χρῶμα (khrôma, “colour”) + -ινος (-inos, “made of”). Analyzable as chromatic (“of colour”) + -in (“substance”).

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.