: any of a group of triarylmethane dyes (as pararosaniline, crystal violet, or aurin) derived from triphenylmethane and used as mothproofing agents in the case of some colorless derivatives as well as dyes, organic pigments, and biological stains in the case of colored derivatives — compare leuco base, xanthene dye
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Chem.
any of a great number of dyes, as gentian violet, fuchsin, and rosaniline, produced from triphenylmethane by replacement of the ring hydrogen atoms with hydroxy, amino, sulfo, or other atoms or groups.
[1930-35]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.