First Known Use: 1838
Dictionary
melanoma
noun mel·a·no·ma \ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə\
medical : a type of cancer or tumor that begins as a dark spot or area on the skin
plural mel·a·no·mas also mel·a·no·ma·ta \-mə-tə\
Full Definition of MELANOMA
1
: a tumor containing dark pigment
2
: a highly malignant tumor that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely
See melanoma defined for English-language learners
See melanoma defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of MELANOMA
New Latin
Medical Dictionary
melanoma
noun mel·a·no·ma \ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə\
plural mel·a·no·mas also mel·a·no·ma·ta \-mət-ə\
Medical Definition of MELANOMA
1
: a benign or malignant skin tumor containing dark pigment
2
: a tumor of high malignancy that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely—called also malignant melanoma, melanocarcinoma, melanoepithelioma, melanosarcoma
Learn More About MELANOMA
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: melanophorePrevious Word in the Dictionary: melanogenesisAll Words Near: melanoma
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up melanoma? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).