cantaloupe

noun

can·​ta·​loupe ˈkan-tə-ˌlōp 

 also  -ˌlüp

variants or less commonly cantaloup

1

: a small widely cultivated muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) with a heavily netted rind and usually orange flesh

broadly : muskmelon sense a

2

: a muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis) with a rough hard warty rind that is not usually grown in North America

Examples of cantaloupe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Plant cantaloupe seeds now in mounds several inches tall with four feet between mounds. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 12 June 2025

Different Ways to Enjoy Cantaloupe A fresh, ripe cantaloupe is easy to enjoy as is. —Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 28 May 2025

Sweet cantaloupe and blueberries bring maximum sweetness, while the vinaigrette and flaky sea salt balance everything out just right. —Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 May 2025

This idea was tested on five commodity fruits — cantaloupe, honeydew, mango, pineapple, watermelon — to great success: among fruit that would have gone to waste, 53.2% was recovered. —Steven Savage, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Cantalupo, former papal villa near Rome, Italy

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cantaloupe

• antelope
• bronchoscope
• cystoscope
• endoscope
• envelope
• epitope
• gyroscope
• horoscope
• isotope
• microscope
• misanthrope
• pericope

Kids Definition

cantaloupe

noun

can·​ta·​loupe

variants also cantaloup

ˈkant-ᵊl-ˌōp 

: a muskmelon with a hard rough skin and reddish orange flesh