Definitions for melanesia
ˌmɛl əˈni ʒə, -ʃəmelane·si·a

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Melanesianoun

   the islands in the southwestern part of Oceania

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Melanesianoun

   Part of Oceania, made up of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.

2. Etymology: From μέλας + νῆσος, referring to the skin color of the inhabitants.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. melanesia

   Melanesia is a region located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean that encompasses several islands and island groups, including New Guinea, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. The name means "black islands”, alluding to the dark skin of the inhabitants. It is one of three major cultural areas in the Pacific, alongside Micronesia and Polynesia. The region shares cultural and historical similarities with Oceania and is known for its abundant natural resources and diverse wildlife.

FreebaseRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. Melanesia

   Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises the countries of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea; besides these independent countries, Melanesia also includes New Caledonia, a special collectivity of France, and the region of West Papua which is the location of two provinces of Indonesia, Papua and West Papua. The name Melanesia was first used by Jules Dumont d'Urville in 1832 to denote an ethnic and geographical grouping of islands distinct from Polynesia and Micronesia.

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. Melanesia

   eleven archipelagoes of crystalline, coralline, and volcanic islands in the W. of Polynesia, all S. of the equator, and inhabited by the Melanesian or dark oceanic race; includes the Fiji, Solomon, Bismarck, and New Hebrides islands.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Melanesia

   The collective name for the islands of the Pacific Ocean northeast of Australia, including NEW CALEDONIA; VANUATU; New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, FIJI, etc. Melanesia (from the Greek melas, black + nesos, island) is so called from the black color of the natives who are generally considered to be descended originally from the Negroid Papuans and the Polynesians or Malays. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p748 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p344)

Matched Categories

1. • Austronesia
   • Archipelago

How to pronounce melanesia?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say melanesia in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of melanesia in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of melanesia in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

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