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.

---

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

---

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

They don’t say that you will mourn this garish and ugly melamine plate—which you rashly gave away during a clear-out—as if it were a dead pet.

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

Fortessa makes melamine serving dishes in that fun, speckly, camp enamel pattern, only – hey! – it’s melamine, so perfect for outdoor dining.

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