melamine

noun

mel·​a·​mine ˈme-lə-ˌmēn How to pronounce melamine (audio)
1
: a white crystalline organic base C3H6N6 with a high melting point that is used especially in melamine resins
2
: a melamine resin or a plastic made from such a resin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Complete with a kid-friendly plate, bowl, and tumbler, this set is made with melamine to resist scratching and shattering. Emerson Latham, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Mar. 2023 Honey is diluted with cheap corn syrup and other sugars of milk adulteration, most involved mixing extra proteins in or substituting a cheaper variety of milk for an expensive one, but 24 involved the chemical melamine , a toxic compound that makes milk register as more protein-rich on tests. Veronique Greenwood, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2012 Put your hardened pattern on a disposable piece of melamine or ¼-inch plastic. Mark Melonas, Popular Mechanics, 10 Oct. 2020 There’s a lot of red, white and blue, and stars and stripes on sale through July 5, but also other classic colors and patterns perfect for year round. See Martha Stewart grilling collection at Macy’s that includes durable acrylic or melamine serving and dining pieces. oregonlive, 1 July 2021 One of the most infamous cases of recent adulteration, in China in 2008, involved dairy products mixed with melamine . Veronique Greenwood, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2012 Make use of this additional space with one of these melamine shelves, available in seven different sizes. Leeron Hoory, Popular Mechanics, 18 Jan. 2023 These polymers are used to produce materials such as bakelite, melamine and the epoxy resins used in wind-turbine blades. Sarah Deweerdt, Scientific American, 13 Dec. 2022 Made of melamine—a hardy type of plastic—and decorated with pretty blue, gray, and white geometric patterns, these dishes are durable enough to withstand kids and pretty enough to have adults singing their praises. Lauren Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'melamine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German Melamin

First Known Use

circa 1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of melamine was circa 1835

Dictionary Entries Near melamine

Cite this Entry

“Melamine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melamine. Accessed 2 Jun. 2023.

Medical Definition

melamine

noun
mel·​a·​mine ˈmel-ə-ˌmēn How to pronounce melamine (audio)
1
: a white crystalline organic base C3H6N6 with a high melting point that is used especially in making resins by reaction with aldehydes
2
: a resin made from melamine or a plastic made from such a resin

More from Merriam-Webster on melamine

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!