cochineal /coch·i·neal/ (koch´ĭ-nēl) dried female insects of Coccus cacti, enclosing young larvae; used as a coloring agent for pharmaceuticals and as a biological stain.
cochineal
coch·i·neal (k ch  -n l , kch-nl, k ch-nl, kch-nl)n. A red dye made of dried, pulverized female cochineal insects and used as a biological stain and as an indicator in acid-base titrations. |
cochineal
[koch′inēl′]
Etymology: L, coccineus, bright red
a red dye prepared from the dried female insects of the species Coccus cacti containing young larvae. During the preparation of the dye the larvae are extracted with an aqueous solution of alum. The resulting dye has been used in coloring medicines.
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