melanocyte
noun
me·la·no·cyte
mə-ˈla-nə-ˌsīt 
ˈme-lə-nō-
plural melanocytes
: a cell (as of the skin, eye, or hair follicle) that produces melanin
an epidermal melanocyte
The choroid also contains numerous pigment-producing melanocytes that give it a brownish black appearance.—
John Hole
John HoleMelanocytes, the body's pigment cells, generally do good, not harm. They give our skin its natural color and, when struck by the sun, churn out additional pigment (or melanin) to darken and protect us.—Claudia Kalb
Claudia KalbThe number of Americans diagnosed with melanoma, a cancer of the melanocytes, or pigmented cells of the skin, has increased steadily for decades.—Gina Kolata
see melanosome compare melanophore
Gina KolataExamples of melanocyte in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During this process, your body releases pigment-producing melanocytes (the cells responsible for your skin’s color) to protect the affected area, Dr. Taylor says.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Oct. 2024
Essentially, soy works as a dark spot corrector by preventing melanin (pigment) from being transferred from melanocytes (color cells) to keratinocytes (skin cells), Dr. Zeichner explains.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 26 Sep. 2024
As few as two blistering sunburns can increase a person’s long-term risk of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, says Rogers.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 22 July 2024
An absence of melanocytes results in a loss of pigmentation.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 1 Aug. 2024
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Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Oct. 2024
Essentially, soy works as a dark spot corrector by preventing melanin (pigment) from being transferred from melanocytes (color cells) to keratinocytes (skin cells), Dr. Zeichner explains.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 26 Sep. 2024
As few as two blistering sunburns can increase a person’s long-term risk of melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, says Rogers.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 22 July 2024
An absence of melanocytes results in a loss of pigmentation.
—Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for melanocyte
Dictionary Entries Near melanocyte
Cite this Entry
“Melanocyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melanocyte. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
melanocyte
noun
me·la·no·cyte
mə-ˈlan-ə-ˌsīt
ˈmel-ə-nō-
: a body cell (as in the skin) that produces or contains melanin
Medical Definition
melanocyte
noun
me·la·no·cyte
mə-ˈlan-ə-ˌsīt
ˈmel-ə-nō-
ˈmel-ə-nō-
: a cell (as of the skin, eye, or hair follicle) that produces melanin see melansome compare melanophore
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