English Meaning & Definitions
A dark brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals, responsible for tanning of skin exposed to sunlight.
- “People with higher levels of melanin in their skin have a greater natural protection against UV radiation from the sun.”
- “The production of melanin increases when the skin is exposed to sunlight.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “melanin”.
Derived from the Greek word 'melas', meaning 'black', combined with the chemical suffix '-in' used for substances and proteins. The term was coined in the late 19th century to describe the dark pigments found in skin, hair, and eyes.
Think of 'MELA-nin' like 'MELOn-in' because many dark melons have rich, pigmented skins.
Frequently Asked Questions About “melanin”
1. What is the meaning of “melanin” in English?
In English, melanin (noun) is defined as: “A dark brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals, responsible for tanning of skin exposed to sunlight.”.
2. How do you use “melanin” in a sentence?
“People with higher levels of melanin in their skin have a greater natural protection against UV radiation from the sun.”
3. What are English synonyms of “melanin”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “melanin”?
Derived from the Greek word 'melas', meaning 'black', combined with the chemical suffix '-in' used for substances and proteins. The term was coined in the late 19th century to describe the dark pigments found in skin, hair, and eyes.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.