Chloroplast
/ˈklɔːr.ə.plæst/noun
A plant cell organelle that contains chlorophyll and carries out photosynthesis.
Did you know?The word was coined in the 19th century from Greek elements, with chlor- linked to greenish-yellow color and -plast from a root meaning “to mold” or “to form,” making it a scientific name built from ancient language magic.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
khlōrós (χλωρός)
“greenish-yellow, pale, fresh”
Ancient Greek
Greek
plássein (πλάσσειν)
“to mold, shape, form”
19th Century
German/Scientific Latin
Chloroplast
“a green body in plant cells”
Modern English
English
chloroplast
“the chlorophyll-containing organelle in plant cells”
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