melamine
|mel-a-mine|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈmɛləˌmiːn/
🇬🇧
/ˈmɛləmiːn/
chemical compound for plastics
Etymology
Etymology Information
'melamine' originates from German, specifically the word 'Melamin,' where 'Melam' referred to a chemical compound and the suffix '-ine' denoted a chemical substance.
Historical Evolution
'Melamin' was adopted into English as 'melamine' in the 19th century as the chemical was discovered and named.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred specifically to the chemical compound, but over time it also came to refer to the plastic material made from it.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a white crystalline compound used in making plastics, adhesives, and laminates.
Melamine is commonly used in the production of kitchenware.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/06 22:20