lemon

noun lem·on \ ˈle-mən \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

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

See lemon defined for English-language learners

See lemon defined for kids

Examples of lemon in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of lemon from the Web

But the real surprise comes in the tasting: The tart vesicles pop on the tongue, again like caviar, exploding flavor that gourmets have described as intense lemon and lime with herbaceous notes.

— earl nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, "Finger limes the ‘caviar’ of citrus for your garden," 9 Apr. 2018
Pair it with the Oceanside Refresh, made with grapefruit vodka, fresh strawberry puree, fresh lemon and simple syrup.

— carolina gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Yay! Today is National Burrito Day," 5 Apr. 2018
The lemon and ginger add brightness to the spicy, savory tomato base—and you’ve just cooked something really good on a weeknight without breaking a sweat.

— alex van buren, Health.com, "This Easy Indian Dinner Recipe Only Calls for Staples—and It’s Ready in 20 Minutes," 29 Mar. 2018
Combine the remaining strawberries, sliced rhubarb, sugar, vanilla bean (pod and seeds), lemon and cinnamon stick in a saucepan.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Recipe: Strawberry Rhubarb Soup," 27 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, cut all lemons and artichokes in half and scallions crosswise into 2 1/2-inch pieces. Heat grill or grill pan on medium-high.

— the good housekeeping test kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Grilled Lamb and Artichoke Kebabs," 19 Mar. 2018
So we, every day, hand squeeze cases and cases of lemons and limes and everything else.

— daina saleh, Naperville Sun, "Down to Business: Irish pub owner taps 'craft' beer and burger biz with Empire," 16 Mar. 2018
Keep your fridge stocked with soft goat cheese feta, and Parmesan at all times, plus lemons and limes.

— christine byrne, SELF, "9 Smart Cooking Tricks That Make Meal Prep So Much More More Delicious," 15 Mar. 2018
Meghan kicked off her days drinking hot water with lemon and a bowl of oatmeal with bananas and agave syrup, according to a 2016 interview with Delish.com.

— ashley oerman, Cosmopolitan, "15 Things Meghan Markle Did to Get the Body She Has Now," 12 Mar. 2018

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

Illustration of lemon

Origin and Etymology of lemon

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

lemon Synonyms

Other Food Terms

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

lemon

adjective

Definition of lemon

1 : of the color lemon yellow

2 a : containing lemon

b : having the flavor or scent of lemon

Recent Examples of lemon from the Web

Make LEMON PUDDING (from a mix) with 1 percent milk for dessert.

— susan nicholson, Twin Cities, "7-day menu planner: For easy entertaining, try this linguine dish," 16 Apr. 2017
Jack Rudy Elderflower Tonic .5 oz. Lemon juice 4 oz.

— sam dangremond, Town & Country, "This Holiday Cocktail Recipe Honors 170 Years of T&C," 18 Dec. 2015

First Known Use of lemon

1598

Other Food Terms

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

Financial Definition of LEMON

lemon

noun

What It Is

A lemon is an item whose defects were not outwardly apparent at the time that it was sold to a consumer. ”Lemon” has typically referred to a defective new car but its current application has become more widespread.

How It Works

What constitutes a lemon? Using the example of a car, any new vehicle that has a substantial and/or continuous problem that isn't fixed within a reasonable number of attempts, or that has had a certain number of days out of service or in repair. The legal definition according to many state statutes is as follows: 1) a new car can not be fixed for a substantial defect within four attempts; or 2) a safety defect can not be fixed within two attempts; or 3) the car is out of service for 30 days within the first 12,000 miles and/or the first 12 or 24 months of purchase., Under these conditions, the consumer may be entitled to a remedy from the manufacturer of either cash or a replacement car.

Federal and state laws to protect the consumer have been passed in response to the alleged proliferation of defective cars. The consumer is protected by three types of laws: The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, The Uniform Commercial Code, and various state laws.

Why It Matters

The consumer is armed with legislation to support his efforts to secure either a refund or replacement for his defective purchase. Aware of these rights, he can confidently assert his position when faced with a new vehicle (or other product) that is consistently needing repair.

Source: Investing Answers

LEMON Defined for English Language Learners

lemon

noun

Definition of lemon for English Language Learners

: a yellow citrus fruit that has a sour taste
: a bright yellow color
: a product that is not made well : a product that does not work the way it should

LEMON Defined for Kids

lemon

noun lem·on \ ˈle-mən \

Definition of lemon for Students

1 : an oval yellow fruit with a sour juice that is related to the orange and grows on a small spiny tree

2 : something unsatisfactory : dud The used car was a lemon.

Medical Dictionary

lemon

noun lem·on \ ˈlem-ən \

medical Definition of lemon

: 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

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