Standard Lemma guide

bilin

name · noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈbaɪlɪn/

1

name

Meaning 1

Alternative spelling of Blin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any of various biological pigments formed in many organisms as a metabolic product of certain porphyrins.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, microbiology, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From international scientific vocabulary, and clearly reflecting New Latin, from Latin bīlis (“bile”). By surface analysis, bili- + -in, although according to American Heritage Dictionary, bilin was back-formed from phycobilin (as opposed to phycobilin being derived from bilin as surface analysis suggests).

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: biline — pigment formed as a metabolic product of certain porphyrins
  • Portuguese: bilina — pigment formed as a metabolic product of certain porphyrins