melanic

[ muh-lan-ik ]

adjective
  1. Pathology. melanotic.

  2. of or relating to melanism.

Origin of melanic

1
First recorded in 1815–25; melan- + -ic

Words Nearby melanic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use melanic in a sentence

  • The Silky breed of fowls is characterised among other peculiarities by a remarkable abundance of melanic pigment.

    Mendelism | Reginald Crundall Punnett
  • Intermediates occur connecting the melanic form with the type, and sometimes specimens are found of a paler hue than the type.

  • The melanic race have a much stronger propensity to indulge in the intemperate use of ardent spirits than white people.

  • From the experience of breeders it would appear that the melanic form is somewhat hardier, at any rate in captivity.

    Mimicry in Butterflies | Reginald Crundall Punnett
  • A melanic form of the moth, Cymatophora or, suddenly appeared near Hamburg in 1904.

    Mimicry in Butterflies | Reginald Crundall Punnett

British Dictionary definitions for melanic

melanic

/ (məˈlænɪk) /


adjective
  1. relating to melanism or melanosis

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012