1. A white crystalline compound, C₃H₆N₆, used in making melamine resins and for tanning leather.
2. A plastic made from such resin.

[German Melamin : blend of Melam, distillate of ammonium thiocyanate (mel-, arbitrary pref. + Am(monium), ammonium) and Amin, amine.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.