I. ˌmeləˈnēzhən, -ēsh- noun
( -s )
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: Melanesia, islands in the Pacific ocean northeast of Australia + English -an
1. : a member of the dominant native group of Melanesia who constitute a dark-skinned people with thick beards and frizzy often elaborately dressed hair and who are generally considered to be a cross between the Papuans and the Polynesians or the Malays
2. : a language group of the Austronesian languages of Melanesia
II. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
: of or relating to Melanesia, the Melanesians, or their Austronesian languages
a Melanesian littoral fauna