Main Entry: ¹lem·on

Pronunciation: \ˈle-mən\

Function: noun

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

Date: 15th century

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

[lemon illustration]