Melanesian
[ mel-uh-nee-zhuhn, -shuhn ]
/ ˌmɛl əˈni ʒən, -ʃən /
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adjective
of or relating to Melanesia, its inhabitants, or their languages.
noun
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Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
Origin of Melanesian
First recorded in 1840–50; Melanesi(a) + -an
Words nearby Melanesian
melancholic, melancholy, Melanchthon, melanedema, Melanesia, Melanesian, Melanesian Pidgin English, mélange, melanic, Melanie, melaniferous
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use Melanesian in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for Melanesian
Melanesian
/ (ˌmɛləˈniːzɪən) /
adjective
of or relating to Melanesia, its people, or their languages
noun
a native or inhabitant of Melanesia: generally Negroid with frizzy hair and small stature
a group or branch of languages spoken in Melanesia, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family
See also Neo-Melanesian
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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