Search the Dictionary

Of or pertaining to Melanesia.

A mixture; a medley.

One of a family of fresh-water pectinibranchiate mollusks, having a turret-shaped shell.

Melanotic.

A complex nitrogenous hydrocarbon obtained artificially (as by the action of cyanogen chloride on aniline) as a white, crystalline substance; -- called also diphenyl guanidin.

A black pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the skin (particularly in the skin of the negro), in the epithelial cells of the external layer of the retina (then called fuscin), in the outer layer of the choroid, and elsewhere. It is supposed to be derived from the decomposition of hemoglobin.…

An indue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages; -- the opposite of albinism.

Affected with melanism; of the nature of melanism.

A black variety of garnet.

A group of the human race, including the dark whites.

Having a dark complexion; of or pertaining to the Melanochroi.

A mineral of a red, or brownish or yellowish red color. It is a chromate of lead; -- called also phoenicocroite.

Having very dark or black hair; black-haired. Prichard.

A tumor containing dark pigment.

An East Indian genus of large trees. Melanorrhoea usitatissima is the lignum-vitæ of Peru, and yelds a valuable black varnish.

An instrument containing a combination of colored glasses such that they transmit only red light, so that objects of other colors, as green leaves, appear black when seen through it. It is used for viewing colored flames, to detect the presence of potassium, lithium, etc., by the red light which they emit.…

The morbid deposition of black matter, often of a malignant character, causing pigmented tumors.

An alga of any kind that produces blackish spores, or seed dust. The melanosperms include the rockweeds and all kinds of kelp. -- Mel`a*no*sper"mous, a.

, Melanistic.

, coating a thin plate of iron; also, the process of making such a picture. [Written also melainotype.]