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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Give them these whimsical salad tossers. 14 Striped Napkins $82 at heathertaylorhome.com Heather Taylor Home’s new table linens in springy shades—peony, lilac, honeydew, and a beach blue—are wonderful gifts for the season (or for yourself!). Bebe Howorth, ELLE Decor, 27 Feb. 2023 Encrusted with the moth-sized spotted lanternfly, the black dotted insects also cling to leaves, sometimes releasing what feels like the occasional drop of rain but is in fact honeydew, or bug excrement. Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 The Department of Natural Resources said lanternflies cause harm by sucking sap from plants then releasing liquid called honeydew. Kaleb A. Brown, Detroit Free Press, 23 June 2020 At first, a honeydew fuzz skitters along the horizon. Francine Kiefer, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Jan. 2023 So put watermelon in your gazpacho, make an easy snack or appetizer with cantaloupe and prosciutto or add honeydew to your tzatziki. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2022 Other species of ants were crowding them out, and dominating the honeydew supplies. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 5 Dec. 2011 Fortunately, Sunday’s rain not only washed away the honeydew, but also many of the aphids, who won’t have enough time to repopulate before the trees shed their leaves. Sarah Bahari, Dallas News, 18 Oct. 2022 These round, honeydew-sized left and right speakers are a solid improvement over most laptop and monitor speakers, despite their small size. Harry Rabinowitz, Popular Mechanics, 29 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'honeydew.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 23 Mar. 2023.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Challenging Standardized Test Words

  • high school student holding a pencil leaning over a sat test
  • Despite the cacophony, the student tried to study.
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY