How Do You Spell COUNTERSTAIN?

Pronunciation: [kˈa͡ʊntəstˌe͡ɪn] (IPA)

Counterstain is a term commonly used in biology and histology. It refers to a colored dye used to enhance the visibility of a tissue sample within a microscope. The word can be broken down into two components: "counter" and "stain." The pronunciation of the word is /ˈkaʊntərsteɪn/ with the stress on the first syllable. The "coun-" prefix means against or opposite, while the "stain" refers to the dye. Thus, counterstain is a dye used to contrast with the primary stain and enable better visualization under the microscope.

COUNTERSTAIN Meaning and Definition

1. Counterstain is a technique used in the field of microscopy to enhance the visualization of specific components or structures within a biological sample. It involves the application of a contrasting stain, usually of a different color, to a tissue or cellular specimen that has already been stained with a primary dye. The primary purpose of counterstaining is to enable the distinction and identification of multiple biological elements simultaneously.

   The process of counterstaining begins after the initial dye has been added. Once the primary stain has imparted color to the target components, such as specific cells or organelles, the counterstain is introduced. This secondary dye selectively binds to other structures within the sample, resulting in a distinct color for each component, allowing for differentiation and identification under a microscope.

   Counterstains are typically used to differentiate between the various constituents of a specimen, enhancing the contrast and aiding in the interpretation of microscopic images. It is particularly useful for distinguishing specific tissue types, cell populations, or cellular structures within a complex sample.

   The choice of counterstain is crucial, as it must be compatible with the primary stain, provide the desired contrast, and not interfere with the identification of the targeted components. Common counterstains include safranin, methylene blue, hematoxylin, eosin, and crystal violet, each exhibiting different affinities and colors.

   Overall, counterstaining enlarges the range of information that can be obtained from a microscopic examination, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis of cellular and tissue structure.

2. A second stain of different color, having affinity for other tissues or cells than those taking the primary stain, employed to render more distinct the parts taking the first stain.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for COUNTERSTAIN

• xounterstain
• vounterstain
• founterstain
• dounterstain
• ciunterstain
• ckunterstain
• clunterstain
• cpunterstain
• c0unterstain
• c9unterstain
• coynterstain
• cohnterstain
• cojnterstain
• cointerstain
• co8nterstain
• co7nterstain
• coubterstain
• coumterstain
• coujterstain
• couhterstain

Etymology of COUNTERSTAIN

The word "counterstain" is a compound word comprising of two components: "counter" and "stain".

The word "counter" comes from the Old French word "contre" which means "against" or "opposite". It entered the English language around the 14th century and is derived from the Latin word "contra" with the same meaning.

The word "stain" comes from the Old Norse word "steina" which means "to paint" or "to color". It originated in the Germanic languages and entered the English language around the 14th century.

Therefore, the etymology of "counterstain" is a combination of the Latin "contra" and the Germanic "steina", resulting in a word that describes a technique of staining an object in a contrasting or opposing color.

Similar spelling words for COUNTERSTAIN

• counterman,
• counterglow,
• countersuit,
• counterperson,
• counterfire,
• counterchange,
• countercurrent,
• counterattack,
• countersink,
• countersign,
• counterbalanced,
• counterblow,
• countermove,
• counterwoman,
• countershot,
• counterpoint,
• Contreras,
• counterblast,
• counterpane,
• counterbore,
• countermand,
• countervail,
• countercheck,
• counterplay,
• countermarch,
• counteraction,
• counterfoil,
• counterweight,
• counterpunch,
• counterpoison,
• counterstrike,
• counterfeiter,
• countercoup,
• counterspy,
• counterclaim,
• commuter train,
• counterargument,
• counterplea,
• countertenor,
• countersink bit,
• countermine,
• counterplot,
• counterirritant,
• countertop,
• countryseat,
• counterpart,
• counterplan,
• countervailing,
• counterbalance,
• conterminous,
• counterpoise,
• counterfeit,
• counteract,
• counteroffer,
• counterpose,
• counter tube.

Plural form of COUNTERSTAIN is COUNTERSTAINS

Conjugate verb Counterstain

CONDITIONAL

I would counterstain

you would counterstain

he/she/it would counterstain

we would counterstain

they would counterstain

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be counterstaining

you would be counterstaining

he/she/it would be counterstaining

we would be counterstaining

they would be counterstaining

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have counterstain

you would have counterstain

he/she/it would have counterstain

we would have counterstain

they would have counterstain

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been counterstaining

you would have been counterstaining

he/she/it would have been counterstaining

we would have been counterstaining

they would have been counterstaining

FUTURE

I will counterstain

you will counterstain

he/she/it will counterstain

we will counterstain

they will counterstain

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be counterstaining

you will be counterstaining

he/she/it will be counterstaining

we will be counterstaining

they will be counterstaining

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have counterstained

you will have counterstained

he/she/it will have counterstained

we will have counterstained

they will have counterstained

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been counterstaining

you will have been counterstaining

he/she/it will have been counterstaining

we will have been counterstaining

they will have been counterstaining

IMPERATIVE

you counterstain

we let´s counterstain

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to counterstain

PAST

I counterstained

you counterstained

he/she/it counterstained

we counterstained

they counterstained

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was counterstaining

you were counterstaining

he/she/it was counterstaining

we were counterstaining

they were counterstaining

PAST PARTICIPLE

counterstained

PAST PERFECT

I had counterstained

you had counterstained

he/she/it had counterstained

we had counterstained

they had counterstained

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been counterstaining

you had been counterstaining

he/she/it had been counterstaining

we had been counterstaining

they had been counterstaining

PRESENT

I counterstain

you counterstain

he/she/it counterstains

we counterstain

they counterstain

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am counterstaining

you are counterstaining

he/she/it is counterstaining

we are counterstaining

they are counterstaining

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

counterstaining

PRESENT PERFECT

I have counterstained

you have counterstained

he/she/it has counterstained

we have counterstained

they have counterstained

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been counterstaining

you have been counterstaining

he/she/it has been counterstaining

we have been counterstaining

they have been counterstaining