1. Plural of chromophobe; cells or organisms that do not readily absorb or retain dyes or stains.
Usage: technical; biology; histology
2. In histology, cells in the anterior pituitary gland that stain poorly or not at all with standard dyes.
Usage: anatomy; medical

Examples

• Under the microscope, the chromophobes appeared as unstained or lightly stained cells.
• The pathologist identified chromophobes in the pituitary tissue sample.
• Chromophobes contrast with chromophils, which absorb dyes readily.
• The anterior pituitary contains chromophobes that are difficult to visualize with routine staining.
• Histological examination revealed a population of chromophobes in the glandular tissue.