cantaloupe

noun

can·​ta·​loupe ˈkan-tə-ˌlōp How to pronounce cantaloupe (audio)
 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
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Boar's Head, generally considered a premiere deli meat brand, continues to grapple with a listeria outbreak − the largest since the cantaloupe outbreak of 2011 − that has left 10 dead. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024 Kandy's cantaloupe products were removed due to potential contamination with salmonella. Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 30 Sep. 2024 One thing is clear: After watching Citrin taste every single type of melon at the market before discovering the one with the sweetest, most concentrated cantaloupe flavor for his summer melon canapé, the quality of produce will never be the thing to cut. Heather Platt, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2024 The agency called it the largest listeria outbreak since one linked to cantaloupe in 2011. Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cantaloupe 

Word History

Etymology

Cantalupo, former papal villa near Rome, Italy

First Known Use

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cantaloupe was in 1739

Dictionary Entries Near cantaloupe

Cite this Entry

“Cantaloupe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cantaloupe. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

cantaloupe

noun
can·​ta·​loupe
variants also cantaloup
: a muskmelon with a hard rough skin and reddish orange flesh

More from Merriam-Webster on cantaloupe

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