biliverdin
noun
bil·i·ver·din
ˌbi-li-ˈvər-dᵊn 
ˈbi-li-ˌvər-
: a green pigment that occurs in bile and is an intermediate in the degradation of hemoglobin heme groups to bilirubin
Examples of biliverdin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the puppies, who's since earned the name Shamrock, was born with a dark green colored coat due to biliverdin, a bile pigment that sometimes mixes with a pup's amniotic fluid, causing a baby canine to be born green.
—
Rachel Flynn, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Rare White Deer Sighting Turns Student's Trip into a 'Fairytale'
The coloring, which wore off over several weeks, was caused by biliverdin.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Green-blooded skinks have 20 times more biliverdin in their bodies than the highest level of the chemical ever found in a human—and for that person, the quantity was fatal.
—Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2020
The strange pigmentation is believed to occur when pale puppies come in contact with biliverdin in their mother's wound, according to Reuters.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2020
When red cells die, the body converts the hemoglobin down into somewhat less toxic compounds including the green pigment biliverdin.
—Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019
Hundreds of malaria parasites infect lizards, and some studies have shown that biliverdin can block the growth of the parasite that causes the illness, as well as killing infected red blood cells.
—Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 20 May 2018
The liver then gathers them and takes out the iron, creating the green waste product biliverdin, which is later transformed further into yellow bilirubin.
—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 17 May 2018
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Rachel Flynn, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Rare White Deer Sighting Turns Student's Trip into a 'Fairytale'
The coloring, which wore off over several weeks, was caused by biliverdin.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
Green-blooded skinks have 20 times more biliverdin in their bodies than the highest level of the chemical ever found in a human—and for that person, the quantity was fatal.
—Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2020
The strange pigmentation is believed to occur when pale puppies come in contact with biliverdin in their mother's wound, according to Reuters.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2020
When red cells die, the body converts the hemoglobin down into somewhat less toxic compounds including the green pigment biliverdin.
—Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019
Hundreds of malaria parasites infect lizards, and some studies have shown that biliverdin can block the growth of the parasite that causes the illness, as well as killing infected red blood cells.
—Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 20 May 2018
The liver then gathers them and takes out the iron, creating the green waste product biliverdin, which is later transformed further into yellow bilirubin.
—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 17 May 2018
Cite this Entry
“Biliverdin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biliverdin. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
biliverdin
noun
bil·i·ver·din
ˌbil-i-ˈvərd-ᵊn, ˈbil-i-ˌ
: a green pigment C33H34N4O6 that occurs in bile and is an intermediate in the degradation of hemoglobin heme groups to bilirubin
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