albino

/æl'bi:nou/

Thân thiện

An albino rabbit hops through a sunlit meadow.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person with congenital albinism: An individual born with a genetic condition characterized by a lack of melanin pigment. This typically results in very pale skin, white or light-colored hair, and often pink or light blue eyes due to the visibility of blood vessels in the iris.
   • An animal or plant with albinism: Any organism exhibiting the traits of albinism, which is the congenital absence of normal pigmentation.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The albino had very sensitive eyes and needed to wear sunglasses outdoors.
  • We saw a rare albino squirrel in the park.
  • The lack of pigment made the albino plant more susceptible to sun damage.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used as a countable noun. It is considered more respectful in modern contexts to use "person with albinism" rather than defining the individual solely by the condition (people-first language).
  • The conference focused on the rights and health of people with albinism.

Variants and Related Words

• Albinism (noun): The medical or biological term for the condition itself.
  • Albinism affects the production of melanin.
• Albinistic (adjective): Having the characteristics of albinism.
  • The albinistic trait is recessive.

Synonyms

• Person with albinism: The preferred descriptive term.
• Leucistic: (Biological term) An animal with partial loss of pigmentation, often confused with but distinct from true albinism.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning relates specifically to the congenital (present from birth) absence of pigment. It is not used for temporary paleness or bleaching.
• In some cultural contexts, the word can carry significant social stigma. Its use requires sensitivity, and the preferred terminology is often descriptive phrases like "a person who has albinism."

Học thuật

Noun

1. a person with congenital albinism: white hair and milky skin; eyes are usually pink