GENTIAN VIOLET

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gentian violet mean? 

• GENTIAN VIOLET (noun)
  The noun GENTIAN VIOLET has 1 sense:

1. a green crystal (violet in water) used as a dye or stain or bactericide or fungicide or anthelmintic or burn treatment

  Familiarity information: GENTIAN VIOLET used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GENTIAN VIOLET (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A green crystal (violet in water) used as a dye or stain or bactericide or fungicide or anthelmintic or burn treatment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

crystal violet; gentian violet

Hypernyms ("gentian violet" is a kind of...):

antibacterial; antibacterial drug; bactericide (any drug that destroys bacteria or inhibits their growth)

antifungal; antifungal agent; antimycotic; antimycotic agent; fungicide (any agent that destroys or prevents the growth of fungi)

anthelminthic; anthelmintic; helminthic; vermifuge (a medication capable of causing the evacuation of parasitic intestinal worms)

stain ((microscopy) a dye or other coloring material that is used in microscopy to make structures visible)

 Context examples 

Gentian violet (GV) dissociates into positive (GV+) and negative ions (Cl-) that penetrate both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial cells.

(Gentian Violet, NCI Thesaurus)