Cochineal
11cochineal — n. [Gr. kokkinos, scarlet] (ARTHROPODA: Insecta) A crimson dye commercially extracted from the dried bodies of the homopterous insect Dactylopius coccus (cochineal scale) cultivated in South America, Mexico and the Canary Islands; see quinone… …
12cochineal — noun /ˈkɑtʃəˈniəl/ a) A species of insect (Dactylopius coccus). b) A vivid red dye made from the bodies of cochineal insects. Syn: E120 …
13cochineal — The dried female insects, Coccus cacti, enclosing the young larvae, or the dried female insect, Dactylopius coccus, containing eggs and larvae, from which coccinellin is obtained; used as a red coloring agent and a stain. See carmine. SYN:… …
14cochineal — coch|i|neal [ˌkɔtʃıˈni:l US ˌka: ] n [U] [Date: 1500 1600; : French; Origin: cochenille, from Old Spanish cochinilla small insect from which cochineal is obtained ] a substance used to give food a red colour …
15cochineal — [[t]kɒ̱tʃɪni͟ːl[/t]] N UNCOUNT Cochineal is a red substance that is used for colouring food …
16cochineal — coch•i•neal [[t]ˌkɒtʃ əˈnil, ˌkoʊ tʃə , ˈkɒtʃ əˌnil, ˈkoʊ tʃə [/t]] n. a red dye prepared from the dried bodies of the females of the cochineal insect, Dactylopius coccus, which lives on cactuses of warm regions • Etymology: 1575–85; < MF… …
17Cochineal fig — Coch i*neal fig, (Bot.) A plant of Central and Southern America, of the Cactus family, extensively cultivated for the sake of the cochineal insect, which lives on it. [1913 Webster] …
18cochineal insect — n a small bright red cactus feeding scale insect (Dactylopius coccus) the females of which are the source of cochineal …
19cochineal insect — n. any of a family (Dactylopiidae) of scale insects, esp. one (Dactylopius coccus) that has a brilliant red body fluid, feeds on certain cactuses, is found chiefly in Mexico, and was formerly much used as a source of cochineal …
20cochineal insect — noun Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye • Syn: ↑cochineal, ↑Dactylopius coccus • Hypernyms: ↑scale insect • Member Holonyms: ↑Dactylopius, ↑genus Dactylopius * * …
