metachromismn.
/ˌmɛtəˈkrəʊmɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌmɛdəˈkroʊˌmɪz(ə)m/ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > change of colour > [noun]
discoloura1398
discolouring?a1425
discolouration1545
discolouredness1585
transcoloration1664
discolourment1762
discolorization1827
metachromatism1876
metachromism1876
metachrosis1887
tinctumutation1895
electrochromism1961
the world > life > biology > biological processes > development, growth, or degeneration > [noun] > change of colour
metachromatism1876
metachromism1876
metachrosis1887
1876 Chem. News 11 Feb. 60/2 Metachromism, as he [sc. W. Ackroyd] terms the changes of colour which various substances undergo when heated.
1876 Galaxy July 133/2 It is evident that metachromism is nearly related to allotropism, a body expanding through the influence of heat presenting a continuous series of allotropes.
2. Zoology. A sequence of evolutionary change in mammalian coat colour, consisting of loss of agouti patterning and reduction in pigmentation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > evolution > [noun] > processes or types of evolution
transmutation1626
substitution1822
subspeciation1826
metamorphosis1835
phytogenesis1847
phytogeny1850
anamorphosis1852
correlation1859
advergence1861
convergence1861
phylogeny1869
ontogeny1872
recapitulation1874
ontogenesis1875
phylogenesis1875
biogenesis1876
abiogenesis1884
anagenesis1889
tachygenesis1893
orthogenesis1895
adaptive radiation1898
speciation1906
microevolution1911
subspeciation1921
raciation1934
orthogenetics1937
encephalization1938
proterogenesis1938
allomorphosis1941
cladogenesis1953
Wallace effect1966
metachromism1968
punctuation1976
speciational evolution1988
tachygen-
1968 P. Hershkovitz in Evolution 22 558/1 The principle of saturation, bleaching, and elimination of integumental pigments in the same direction and along similar and irreversible pathways in mammals is here termed metachromism.
1970 Q. Rev. Biol. 45 21/2 The principle of metachromism or evolutionary change in mammalian integumentary colors. He [sc. Hershkovitz] believes that..as predation pressures have decreased, coloration has become less protective and more attractive.
1988 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 140 i. 240 The guide for and measure of evolutionary change of mammalian tegumentary coloration is described as metachromism.
1995 Systematic Biol. 44 515 Metachromism is a theory of variation in mammalian coat color that predicts an orthogenetic evolutionary pattern.
2000 New Scientist 5 Feb. 32/1 Metachromism would probably have faded into obscurity had it been proposed by some minor figure.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1876