cryptochrome

C3R1Y4P3T1O1C3H4R1O1M3E1

noun

Any of several light-sensitive flavoproteins, involved in the circadian rhythms of plants and animals, and possibly also in the sensing of magnetic fields.

OriginEnglish crypto- ← Ancient Greek κρῠπτός (krŭptós) →
Scrabble 26
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nouncryptochrome (plural cryptochromes)

plural cryptochromes

  1. biochemistryAny of several light-sensitive flavoproteins, involved in the circadian rhythms of plants and animals, and possibly also in the sensing of magnetic fields.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκρῠ́πτω (krŭ́ptō)
  2. Ancient Greekκρῠπτός (krŭptós)
  3. Englishcrypto-
  4. Englishcryptochrome

From crypto- + -chrome.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

cryptochrome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptochrome

MLA

“cryptochrome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptochrome. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cryptochrome,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptochrome.

Source: cryptochrome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.