English Explanatory Dictionary

melanin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of a group of naturally occurring dark pigments, especially the pigment found in skin, hair, fur, and feathers.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɛlənɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-melanin.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Simplificationalizer-melanin.wav /ˈmelənɪn/ /ˈmelənən/

Word forms

melanin melanins

Etymology

From New Latin, from Ancient Greek stem of μέλας (mélas, “black”) + -in; by surface analysis, melan(o)- + -in.

Related words

melano- melatonin

Derived words

allomelanin amelanosis biomelanin dopamelanin eumelanin melanated melanin-challenged melaninization melaninlike melaninogenesis melanistic melanize melatonin neuromelanin pheomelanin phytomelanin prepromelanin promelanin pyomelanin zoomelanin
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