a cell, usually in the epidermis, that contains melanin
melanocyte in American English
(ˈmɛlənoʊˌsaɪt; məˈlænəˌsaɪt)
noun
a specialized cell containing melanin
Word origin
melano- + -cyte
melanocyte in American English
(məˈlænəˌsait, ˈmelənə-)
noun
Biology
a cell producing and containing melanin
Word origin
[1885–90; melano- + -cyte]This word is first recorded in the period 1885–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: classified, reactor, retread, roller coaster, scrum-cyte is a combining form meaning “cell,” used as the final element in compound words.Other words that use the affix -cyte include: coenocyte, monocyte, oocyte, solenocyte, spermatocyte
Examples of 'melanocyte' in a sentence
melanocyte
The death of the melanocyte stem cells causes the onset of greying.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Hair's colour comes from melanin, produced from melanocyte cells at the base of hair follicles.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In beauty products, it regulates skin colour by stimulating melanocyte cells that produce pigment, thus reducing signs of age spots.