gram stain meaning and definition

GRAM STAIN noun

Definition of Gram stain (noun)

1. a staining technique used to classify bacteria; bacteria are stained with gentian violet and then treated with Gram's solution; after being decolorized with alcohol and treated with safranine and washed in water, those that retain the gentian violet are Gram-positive and those that do not retain it are Gram-negative
   • synonyms: Gram method, Gram's method, Gram's procedure, Gram's stain