The Collaborative International Dictionary
magenta \ma*gen"ta\ (m[.a]*j[e^]n"t[.a]), n. (Chem.) An aniline dye obtained as an amorphous substance having a green bronze surface color, which dissolves to a shade of red; also, the color; -- so called from Magenta, in Italy, in allusion to the battle fought there about the time the dye was discovered. Called also fuchsin, fuchsine, rose["i]ne, etc.
2. The purplish-red color of magenta.
Wiktionary
n. A dye (rosaniline hydrochloride or similar) usually a deep red or magenta colour.
Wikipedia
Fuchsine (sometimes spelled fuchsin) or rosaniline hydrochloride is a magenta dye with chemical formula CHN·HCl. There are other similar chemical formulations of products sold as fuchsine, and several dozen other synonyms of this molecule.
It becomes magenta when dissolved in water; as a solid, it forms dark green crystals. As well as dying textiles, fuchsine is used to stain bacteria and sometimes as a disinfectant. In the literature of biological stains the name of this dye is frequently misspelled, with omission of the terminal -e, which indicates an amine. American and English dictionaries (Webster's, Oxford, Chambers, etc.) give the correct spelling, which is also used in the literature of industrial dyeing. It is well established that production of fuchsine results in development of bladder cancers by production workers. Production of magenta is listed as a circumstance known to result in cancer.
Usage examples of "fuchsine".
The B brand of the Azo Fuchsines gives slightly bluer shades than the above.
The glaucous green shivered into calcimine, then livid purple, then dazzling alizarin and fuchsine and chrome orange and barium yellow.