| melancholy |
a sad, gloomy, or depressed state or quality. [3 definitions] |
| Melanesia |
one of the three principal Pacific island groups, south of the equator, stretching from northeast of New Guinea to Fiji. (Cf. Micronesia, Polynesia.) |
| Melanesian |
of or pertaining to Melanesia or its people, cultures, languages, or the like. [3 definitions] |
| mélange |
a mixture, usu. of very dissimilar elements. |
| melanin |
a dark pigment that colors the skin, hair, and other tissue of humans and some animals. |
| melanism |
an esp. high amount of dark pigmentation, as in hair, skin, feathers, or the like. [2 definitions] |
| melano- |
dark; black. |
| melanocyte |
an epidermal cell in birds and mammals that produces and stores the pigment melanin. |
| melanoma |
a malignant tumor, esp. of the skin or eye, that is darkly pigmented with melanin. |
| melatonin |
a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that is important in regulating the body's response to biological rhythms such as the light-dark cycle. |
| Melba toast |
a very thinly sliced and crisply toasted piece of bread. |
| meld1 |
to declare and show (one's hand) in certain card games, such as pinochle. [2 definitions] |
| meld2 |
to blend or merge. |
| melee |
a chaotic hand-to-hand fight among several combatants; free-for-all. [2 definitions] |
| meliorate |
to make or become better; improve; ameliorate. |
| melioration |
improvement; amelioration. [2 definitions] |
| melisma |
a succession of different notes sung to one syllable in plainsong and in certain Asian and Near Eastern music. |
| mellifluous |
flowing and sweet, as though with honey. |
| mellow |
of fruit, ripely soft, juicy, and flavorful. [6 definitions] |
| mellow out |
(informal) to be at ease. |
| melodeon |
a small keyboard organ similar to the harmonium in which a bellows, operated by pedals, causes air to be drawn through metal reeds. |