cochineal

(coch-i-neal) 3 syllables

Definition


noun.
1 Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye; 2 a red dyestuff consisting of dried bodies of females of the above insect

Example Sentence

Before the introduction of synthetic dyes cochineal was commonly used.

Synonyms

Mexican insect; Dactylopius coccus; red dye

Antonyms

blue dye