pigmentoitu

Pigmentoitu is a Finnish adjective meaning pigmented or colored by pigment. It is formed from the noun pigmentti (pigment) and the participial suffix -oitu, which yields an adjective describing something that has acquired pigment or contains pigment.

Usage centers on describing coloration produced by pigments rather than other color sources. In biology and medicine, pigmentoitu may refer to tissues or lesions that show color due to melanin or other pigments. In botany, leaves, petals, or fruits may be described as pigmentoitu when their hues arise from pigments such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, or anthocyanins. In materials science and art, pigmentoitu surfaces are colored with pigment powders that are typically insoluble, as opposed to dyes that color through solution.

Origin and related terms: The term derives from Latin pigmentum; English equivalents include pigmented or pigmentation. In Finnish, related forms include pigmentointi (pigmenting) and pigmentoituminen (pigmentation process).

See also: pigment, pigmentation, pigmented, pigmentary.