lemon

1 of 2

noun

lem·​on ˈle-mən 

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

: something (such as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective

Illustration of lemon

• branch with fruit and flowers

lemon

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of the color lemon yellow

2

a

: containing lemon

b

: having the flavor or scent of lemon

Synonyms

Noun

• bomb
• bummer
• bust
• catastrophe
• clinker
• clunker
• debacle
• débâcle
• disaster
• dud
• failure
• fiasco
• fizzle
• flop
• frost
• loser
• miss
• shipwreck
• turkey
• washout

Examples of lemon in a Sentence

Noun

The recipe calls for the juice of two lemons.

Garnish it with a slice of lemon.

Our new car is a lemon.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Add lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and remaining 1/2 tsp. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2024

The drink’s strong lemon flavor was mellowed by a light, unremarkable sweetness that came from brazzein, a sugar substitute green-lighted by the FDA last month. —Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing lemon

• lemon balm
• lemon curd
• lemon law
• lemon shark
• lemon sole
• lemon thyme
• lemon verbena
• lemon yellow
• rough lemon

Kids Definition

lemon

noun

lem·​on

ˈlem-ən

1

a

: a yellow oblong fruit with sour juice and a thick rind from which a fragrant oil is obtained

b

: a small thorny citrus tree that bears lemons

2

: the color of ripe lemons

3

: one that turns out to be unsatisfactory or disappointing

our new car is a lemon

lemon adjective

Medical Definition

lemon

noun

lem·​on ˈlem-ən 

: an acid fruit that contains citric acid and vitamin C, is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry, and is produced by a small thorny tree of the genus Citrus (C. limon)

also : this tree

lemon adjective