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mel·a·mine

(mĕlə-mēn′)

1. A white crystalline compound, C₃H₆N₆, used in making melamine resins and waterproof coatings, for tanning leather, and as an additive to fertilizer to regulate the rate of nitrogen release. Melamine has also been used as an illicit and harmful additive to foodstuffs to increase the apparent amount of protein present based upon assays for nitrogen.

2. A plastic made from melamine resin.

[German Melamin : blend of Melam, distillate of ammonium thiocyanate (mel-, arbitrary pref. + Am(monium), ammonium) and Amin, amine.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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