a red dye made from the dried bodies of female cochineal insects: used, esp. formerly, in coloring foods, cosmetics, etc.
See cochineal in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(kŏchˌə-nēlˈ, kŏchˈə-nēlˌ, kōˌchə-, kōˈchə-)
noun
A red dye made of the dried and pulverized bodies of female cochineal insects. It is used as a biological stain and as an indicator in acid-base titrations.