melamine

views updated May 17 2018

mel·a·mine / ˈmeləˌmēn/ • n. 1. Chem. a white crystalline compound, (CNH2)3N3, made by heating cyanamide and used in making plastics. 2. (also melamine resin) a plastic used chiefly for laminated coatings, made by copolymerizing this compound with formaldehyde.