Word
melanoma
US/ˌmɛɫəˈnoʊmə/
UK/mˌɛlɐnˈəʊmɐ/
Definition
n. a serious type of skin cancer that often starts in a mole. It happens when the cells that give your skin its color grow out of control.
n. a malignant tumour of melanocytes, typically occurring in the skin but also found in the eyes or intestines. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells and carries a high risk of metastasis.
Examples
“Early detection of melanoma is vital for successful treatment.”
“The dermatologist performed a biopsy on the irregular mole to check for signs of melanoma.”
“While melanoma is less common than other forms of skin cancer, it is significantly more aggressive and accounts for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths globally.”
Examples
simple
“Early detection of melanoma is vital for successful treatment.”
contextual
“The dermatologist performed a biopsy on the irregular mole to check for signs of melanoma.”
complex
“While melanoma is less common than other forms of skin cancer, it is significantly more aggressive and accounts for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths globally.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the disease generally; countable when referring to a specific instance or lesion.
Real-World Examples
Common in health and science writing
“Moderna and Merck say the experimental vaccine prevented the return and spread of the cancer in high-risk melanoma patients.” “The vaccine, developed by drug companies Merck and Moderna, was given to patients with high-risk melanoma, a type of skin cancer, after they had surgery.” “Image caption, The i Paper's top story also covers the landmark vaccine trial, which found patients with high-risk melanoma remained free of cancer for longer after surgery.” “Geological Survey (USGS) and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department confirmed the lesions were malignant melanoma .” Etymology
From melano- + -oma.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/melanoma