melamine

American  

[mel-uh-meen, mel-uh-meen] / ˈmɛl əˌmin, ˌmɛl əˈmin /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid, C 3 N 3 (NH2 ) 3 , used chiefly in organic synthesis and in the manufacture of resins, especially melamine resins.

2. any of the melamine resins.

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melamine British  

/ ˈmɛləˌmiːn /

noun

1. a colourless crystalline compound used in making synthetic resins; 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine. Formula: C 3 H 6 N 6

2. melamine resin or a material made from this resin

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Etymology

Origin of melamine

1825–35; < German Melamin, derivative of Melam distillate of ammonium thiocyanate (arbitrary coinage, but -am representing ammonium ); -ine ²

Example Sentences

All over again, I was lining things up on its smooth and colorful melamine surface.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

Baby formula and pet food manufacturers have had to recall products containing melamine that caused kidney failure.

From Salon • Aug. 2, 2023

There are outdoor-friendly items made of melamine, bamboo and other lightweight materials that look like china or pottery.

From Washington Times • Jun. 19, 2023

It’s served sliced into rounds like sushi on colorful melamine plates from Korea.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2023

Ashima regrets that the plate on which the rice is heaped is melamine, not silver or brass or at the very least stainless-steel.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri