melanophore

[muh-lan-uh-fawr, -fohr, mel-uh-nuh-]

noun Biology.

a pigmented connective-tissue cell containing melanin in its cytoplasm, responsible for color changes in many fishes and reptiles.

Origin of melanophore

First recorded in 1900–05; melano- + -phore

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for melanophore

Historical Examples of melanophore

The smaller frogs were recently metamorphosed as evidenced by the melanophore deposits above the vent.
A Synopsis of Neotropical Hylid Frogs, Genus Osteocephalus
Linda Trueb

melanophore in Medicine

melanophore

[mĕl′ə-nə-fôr′, mə-lăn′ə-]

n.

A pigment cell that contains melanin, especially as found in the skin of amphibians and reptiles.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

melanophore in Science

melanophore

[mĕl′ə-nə-fôr′, mə-lăn′ə-]

A pigmented cell that contains melanin, found especially in the skin of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.