melanocyte: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “melanocyte” mean?
A skin cell that produces melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A skin cell that produces melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color.
In biology and medicine, a specialized dendritic cell of the neural crest origin located in the basal layer of the epidermis, the hair bulbs, and other tissues, responsible for synthesizing and storing melanin granules which are transferred to surrounding keratinocytes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and technical in both UK and US English, confined to specialized fields.
Grammar
How to Use “melanocyte” in a Sentence
[Adjective] + melanocytemelanocyte + [Verb (e.g., produces, migrates, proliferates)]melanocyte + [Prepositional Phrase (e.g., in the epidermis)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “melanocyte” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The melanocytic origin of the tumour was confirmed.
American English
- The biopsy showed melanocytic proliferation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biology, medicine, dermatology, and physiology research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might only appear in popular science articles about skin cancer or tanning.
Technical
Core term in dermatology, oncology (melanoma research), and cosmetic science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “melanocyte”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “melanocyte”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “melanocyte”
- Misspelling as 'melanosite' or 'melanocite'.
- Using it as a general term for any skin cell.
- Pronouncing the 'o' in 'melano-' as a long 'o' (/oʊ/) in American English (it's typically a schwa).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A melanocyte is a normal, healthy pigment-producing cell. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that originates from melanocytes that have become malignant.
No. While most are in the skin's epidermis and hair follicles, melanocytes are also found in the inner ear, eyes (iris and retina), and parts of the brain.
Most people have a similar number of melanocytes. Differences in skin colour are primarily due to variations in the amount and type of melanin produced and how it's distributed, not the cell count.
Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (MSH), produced by the pituitary gland, stimulates melanocytes to produce more melanin.
A skin cell that produces melanin, the pigment responsible for skin, hair, and eye color.
Melanocyte is usually technical/scientific in register.
Melanocyte: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛlənə(ʊ)ˌsʌɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈlænəˌsaɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MELANO (black/dark) + CYTE (cell). A 'dark cell' that makes the dark pigment.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FACTORY or PRODUCTION UNIT for skin pigment.
Practice
Quiz
Where in the body are melanocytes primarily located?