- [ˌmɛlə'ni:zɪ(ə)n, -ʒ(ə)n]noun1》 a native or inhabitant of any of the islands of Melanesia in the western Pacific.2》 any of the languages of Melanesia.adjective relating to Melanesia, its peoples, or their languages.
English new terms dictionary. 2014.
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Melanesian — Mel a*ne sian, prop. a. [Gr. me las, me lanos, black + ? island. Melanesia was so called from the dark complexion of the natives.] Of or pertaining to Melanesia. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Melanesian — (adj.) 1840, from MELANESIA (Cf. Melanesia) + IAN (Cf. ian) … Etymology dictionary
Melanesian — [mel΄ə nēzhən, mel΄ə nēshən] adj. of Melanesia or its peoples, languages, or cultures n. 1. a member of any of the indigenous peoples of Melanesia 2. a branch of the Austronesian family of languages, consisting of the languages of Melanesia … English World dictionary
Melanesian — noun Date: 1845 1. a member of the dominant native group of Melanesia 2. a language group consisting of the Austronesian languages of Melanesia • Melanesian adjective … New Collegiate Dictionary
Melanesian — 1. adjective Of or relating to Melanesia. 2. noun A Melanesian person. See Also: Melanesia … Wiktionary
Melanesian — /mel euh nee zheuhn, sheuhn/, adj. 1. of or pertaining to Melanesia, its inhabitants, or their languages. n. 2. a member of any of the native peoples inhabiting Melanesia. 3. the Austronesian languages of Melanesia, taken collectively. [1840 50;… … Universalium
Melanesian — n. resident of Melanesia (group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia) adj. pertaining to Melanesia (group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia) … English contemporary dictionary
melanesian — mel·a·ne·sian … English syllables
Melanesian — /mɛləˈniʒən / (say meluh neezhuhn) adjective 1. of or relating to Melanesia, its inhabitants, or their languages. –noun 2. a member of one of the peoples native to Melanesia. 3. any of the Austronesian languages of Melanesia … Australian English dictionary
Melanesian — n. & adj. n. 1 a member of the dominant Negroid people of Melanesia, an island group in the W. Pacific. 2 the language of this people. adj. of or relating to this people or their language. Etymology: Melanesia f. Gk melas black + nesos island … Useful english dictionary