n 1  :  any of various dark brown or black pigments of animal or plant structures (as skin, hair, the choroid, or raw potato when exposed to air)  2  :  any of various pigments that are similar to the natural melanins, are obtained esp. by enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine or dopa, and are believed to be quinonoid polymers derived from indole .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  mal·union 
 
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