melan-

American  

1. variant of melano- before a vowel.

   melanism.

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Usage

What does melan- mean? Melan- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “black” or “dark-colored.” In biology and medicine, melan- is specifically used to refer to melanin, “any of a class of insoluble pigments, found in all forms of animal life, that account for the dark color of skin, hair, fur, scales, feathers, etc.”Melan- comes from the Greek mélās, meaning “black.” Did you know the word melancholy also derives in part from this Greek root? Discover the connection between gloominess and the Greek word for black at our entry and in our video for melancholy.Melan- is a variant of melano-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use melano- article.