lemon

¹lem·on

noun \ˈle-mən\

Definition of LEMON

1

a : an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree (Citrus limon) and that has a rind from which an aromatic oil is extracted b : a tree that bears lemons

2

: one (as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective

Examples of LEMON

1. The recipe calls for the juice of two lemons.
2. Garnish it with a slice of lemon.
3. Our new car is a lemon.

Illustration of LEMON

Origin of LEMON

Middle English lymon, from Middle French limon, from Medieval Latin limon-, limo, from Arabic laymūn, līmūn, from Persian līmū, līmun

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to LEMON

Synonyms: bomb, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, clunker, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, dud, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, failure, loser, miss, shipwreck, turkey, washout

Antonyms: blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner

Related Words: also-ran, disappointment, dog, has-been, near miss; botch, hash, mess, muddle, shambles; nonevent; nonstarter

Near Antonyms: corker, crackerjack (also crackajack), dandy, jim-dandy, phenomenon

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Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with LEMON

Bremen, leman, Yemen