melan-

combining form

variants or melano- or less commonly melam-

1

: black : dark

melanic

melanin

melanocomous

Melampsora

2

: melanin : marked by the presence of melanin

melanogen

melanemia

melanosarcoma

Word History

Etymology

melan- from Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin, from Greek, from melan-, melas; melano- & melam- from New Latin, from Greek, from melan-, melas

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!