Meanings
plural rhodopsins
- countableuncountablebiochemistryA light-sensitive pigment in the rod cells of the retina; it consists of an opsin protein bound to the carotenoid retinal
Synonyms: visual purple
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA light-sensitive pigment in the rod cells of the retina; it consists of an opsin protein bound to the carotenoid retinal
More synonyms by meaning
nouna red photopigment in the retinal rods of vertebrates; dissociates into retinene by light
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekῥόδον“rose”
- Englishrhodopsin
From Ancient Greek ῥόδον (rhódon, “rose”), due to its pinkish color, and ὄψις (ópsis, “sight”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French rhodopsine
- rhodopsinea light-sensitive pigment in the rod cells of the retina
Polish rodopsyna
- rodopsynaa light-sensitive pigment in the rod cells of the retina
Portuguese rodopsina
- rodopsinaa light-sensitive pigment in the rod cells of the retina
Romanian rodopsină
- rodopsinăa light-sensitive pigment in the rod cells of the retina
Spanish rodopsina
- rodopsinaa light-sensitive pigment in the rod cells of the retina
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
rhodopsin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhodopsin
“rhodopsin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhodopsin. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rhodopsin,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rhodopsin.
Source: rhodopsin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.