ALBINO

albino

(noun) a person with congenital albinism: white hair and milky skin; eyes are usually pink

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

albino (not comparable)

Congenitally lacking melanin pigmentation in the skin, eyes, and hair or feathers (or more rarely only in the eyes); born with albinism.

Usage notes

• The term is considered offensive by some (when used as a term for human beings); "albinistic" is a possible alternative.

• The term is not comparative: one either has albinism (a recessive genetic trait) or does not. While the effects of albinism may be more marked in some individuals, this does not make those individuals "more albino" than others. To the extent that it could be comparable, perhaps in metaphoric usage, the comparatives would be more/most/less/least albino (not *albinoer, *albinest, etc).

Synonyms

• (lacking melanin): albinal, albinic, albinistic, albinoid, hypomelanistic, hypomelanoid, amelanistic, amelanoid

Antonyms

• (having an excess of melanin): hypermelanistic, hypermelanoid, melanistic, melanoid

Noun

albino (plural albinos or albinoes)

(countable) A person or animal congenitally lacking melanin pigmentation in the skin, eyes, and hair or feathers (or more rarely only in the eyes); one born with albinism.

Usage notes

• The term is considered offensive by some when used to designate a human being; the phrase "person with albinism" is a neutral alternative.

Synonyms

• (one lacking melanin): albinoid, hypomelanoid, amelanoid

Antonyms

• (one having an excess of melanin): hypermelanoid, melano, melanoid

Anagrams

• Albion, Bailon, laibon, no bail, no-bail, oliban, on bail

Source: Wiktionary

Al*bi"no, n.; pl. Albinos. Etym: [Sp. or Pg. albino, orig. whitish, fr. albo white, L. albus.]

Definition: A person, whether negro, Indian, or white, in whom by some defect of organization the substance which gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes is deficient or in a morbid state. An albino has a skin of a milky hue, with hair of the same color, and eyes with deep red pupil and pink or blue iris. The term is also used of the lower animals, as white mice, elephants, etc.; and of plants in a whitish condition from the absence of chlorophyll. Amer. Cyc.

Note: The term was originally applied by the Portuguese to negroes met with on the coast of Africa, who were mottled with white spots.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition