pigment
[C/U] Both
pl: pigments
This term carries a technical and scientific weight, evoking a sense of chemistry and biological composition. It describes the actual substance that creates color, rather than the perceived color itself. In a biological sense, it suggests an organic, intrinsic property of a cell or tissue. In the context of art and industry, it implies a raw, concentrated material. It differs from dye in that pigments are typically insoluble particles that sit on the surface of a material, whereas dyes bond chemically with the fibers.
Countable when referring to a specific type of coloring agent (e.g., a rare organic pigment). Uncountable when referring to the general substance or the coloring matter within a biological organism.