honeydew

noun

hon·​ey·​dew ˈhə-nē-ˌdü How to pronounce honeydew (audio)
-ˌdyü
1
: a saccharine deposit secreted on the leaves of plants usually by aphids or scale insects or sometimes by a fungus
2

Examples of honeydew in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ants consume a lot of their honeydew and, in exchange, protect Hemiptera from enemies like parasitoids or predators. Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024 Good options include cantaloupe, honeydew and pineapple. Becky Krystal, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024 This will kill the insects, which will also knock out the moldy honeydew. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2024 Diners will build their own bites from dishes stacked with Mandarin crepes and julienned cucumbers, scallions, honeydew and cantaloupe. Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 11 Aug. 2023 Even melons that won't ripen or grow sweeter at room temperature, like honeydew, do become softer and juicier. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023 Ribbons of honeydew form a wavy sculpture over the raw lean fish, similar in flavor to flounder and arranged in a shallow pool of cucumber juice and minty shiso. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2023 Granted, high levels of honeydew (sugar-water waste) produced by abundant numbers of the pest can foster heavy layers of sooty mold that can shade leaves, but on deciduous plants, this effect is only temporary. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2023 Experts do not suggest using insecticides because the aphids nor the honeydew cause any damage. Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 12 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honeydew.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of honeydew was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near honeydew

Cite this Entry

“Honeydew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honeydew. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

honeydew

noun
hon·​ey·​dew ˈhən-ē-ˌd(y)ü How to pronounce honeydew (audio)
1
: a sugary substance deposited on the leaves of plants usually by aphids or scale insects or sometimes by a fungus
2

More from Merriam-Webster on honeydew

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