1. Basophilic stain that gives a blue colour (to the nucleus of a cell for example), commonly used in conjunction with eosin that stains the cytoplasm pink or red. Various modifications of haematoxylin have been developed. The histopathologist's H&E is haematoxylin and eosin.
This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology
(11 Mar 2008)