Fixative (Noun)
Meaning 1
A varnish dissolved in alcohol and sprayed over pictures to prevent smudging.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The artist applied a fixative to the delicate charcoal portrait to preserve its intricate details.
- To prevent the pastel drawing from smudging, she sprayed a light layer of fixative over the entire surface.
- The conservator carefully applied a fixative to the historic watercolor painting to protect it from damage.
- After completing the sketch, he used a fixative to set the pencil marks and prevent them from fading.
- The fixative helped to hold the fragile ink lines in place, keeping the illustration crisp and unblemished.
Meaning 2
A compound (such as ethanol or formaldehyde) that fixes tissues and cells for microscopic study.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The histology lab used a fixative to preserve the tissue samples for further examination under a microscope.
- The researcher carefully selected a suitable fixative to prevent degradation of the sensitive cellular structures.
- Formaldehyde is commonly used as a fixative to stabilize tissues and specimens for medical and scientific analysis.
- The pathologist relied on a fixative to maintain the integrity of the tissue samples, ensuring accurate diagnosis.
- In the laboratory setting, a combination of ethanol and formaldehyde was used as a fixative to preserve and study cellular structures.