1. a pigment-containing cell or organ in the skin of certain animals (such as cuttlefish, squid, or chameleons) that can change color by expanding or contracting
Usage: biology term; commonly used in zoology and marine biology
2. in plants, a plastid or pigment-bearing organelle responsible for color in leaves, flowers, and fruits
Usage: botany term; less common than the zoological sense

Examples

• The octopus uses chromatophores in its skin to camouflage itself against the ocean floor.
• Cuttlefish have millions of chromatophores that allow them to change color in milliseconds.
• The chameleon's chromatophores enable it to shift from green to brown depending on its surroundings.
• Scientists study chromatophores to understand how animals communicate through color changes.
• When the squid felt threatened, its chromatophores darkened rapidly.
• Plant chromatophores contain chlorophyll and other pigments that give leaves their green color.