chlorophyll
n. uncountablen. the green substance in plants that helps them turn sunlight into food. It is what makes leaves look green and allows plants to grow.
n. the green pigment in plants and algae that is essential for photosynthesis. It absorbs light energy from the sun and converts it into chemical energy.
Chlorophyll gives leaves their green color.
During the autumn, the chlorophyll in the leaves breaks down, revealing the yellow and orange pigments underneath.
The efficiency of chlorophyll in capturing solar energy is a primary factor in the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems, as it directly influences the rate of carbon fixation in the atmosphere.
Borrowed from French chlorophylle, from Ancient Greek χλωρός (khlōrós, “pale green”) and φύλλον (phúllon, “leaf”).