lemon

noun

lem·on | \ ˈle-mən

Definition of lemon

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

lemon

adjective

Definition of lemon (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : of the color lemon yellow

2a : containing lemon

b : having the flavor or scent of lemon

Other Words from lemon Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about lemon

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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

Drizzle half of the yogurt over the salad and serve with the lemon wedges and the remaining yogurt sauce alongside. — Yotam Ottolenghi, The Seattle Times, "Yet another way to eat your spinach: try the Tunisian condiment pkaila," 18 Sep. 2018 Ladle soup into small bowls and pass lemon wedges for squeezing. — Daniel Neman, sacbee, "Artistry, flavor blends are marks of Moroccan," 10 July 2018 After garnishing with even more Parm, a lemon wedge for squeezing, and a bit of extra mint, I was done. — Jesse Sparks, Bon Appetit, "This Creamy One-Pot Pasta Is Like a Great Dinner Party in a Bowl," 11 June 2018 Serve warm with lemon wedges and/or your favorite dipping sauce. — Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, "Grilling season is here; prosciutto-wrapped shrimp are a perfect way to celebrate," 31 May 2018 Transfer the asparagus to a platter and serve with lemon wedges, if desired. — Adam Ried, BostonGlobe.com, "Recipes: Pork, potatoes, and asparagus done perfectly on the grill," 25 May 2018 Serve with lemon wedges to adjust acidity as desired. — San Antonio Express-News, "Recipe: Bud’s Southern Rotisserie’s Collard Greens," 23 May 2018 Serve immediately with lemon wedges, garlic bread and fermented green chile sauce. — Leilani Marie Labong, San Francisco Chronicle, "Recipe: Dutch Oven Clam Bake," 11 May 2018 Fun fact: this is the same mint julep served at Churchill Downs Recipe: Woodford Thoroughbred 1 1/2 ounces Woodford Reserve Ginger beer (or ginger ale) Garnish with a lemon wedge. — Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, "You're busy. Here's how to throw an epic Kentucky Derby party with minimal prep," 11 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

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

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.

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Dictionary Entries near lemon

Statistics for lemon

Last Updated

9 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for lemon

The first known use of lemon was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for lemon

lemon

noun

Financial Definition of lemon

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

noun

English Language Learners Definition of lemon

: a yellow citrus fruit that has a sour taste

: a bright yellow color

chiefly US, informal : a product that is not made well : a product that does not work the way it should

See the full definition for lemon in the English Language Learners Dictionary

lemon

noun

lem·on | \ ˈle-mən

Kids Definition of lemon

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.

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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