noun

luminol

LYOO-mih-nol

noun

A chemical compound that glows blue when it reacts with certain oxidizing agents, widely used by forensic investigators to detect trace blood.

"The crime scene technician sprayed luminol across the floorboards, revealing faint blue streaks under UV light."

verb

To test a surface or sample with luminol in order to find hidden traces of blood.

"Investigators luminoled the entire apartment after the carpet had clearly been scrubbed clean."

How to Use Luminol

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA blood-detecting chemical used in forensic science, and informally a verb for using it.

Common pairings

spray luminol test with luminol

luminoled past tense, luminolled past tense, luminols plural, luminols singular

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The crime scene technician sprayed _____ across the floorboards, revealing faint blue streaks under UV light.

The compound was first described in a 1934 chemistry paper; the informal verb usage developed decades later, popularized by crime shows.