Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[L.

bilis

biel +

ruber

red.]

(Physiol.)

A reddish yellow pigment present in human bile, and in that from carnivorous and herbivorous animals; the normal biliary pigment.

See also: Bilirubin

bilirubin ‎(countable and uncountable, plural bilirubins)

(biochemistry) A bile pigment that is product of the breakdown of the heme portion of hemoglobin (which occurs within macrophages as they digest red blood cells), extremely high levels of which cause jaundice.

a bile pigment