lemon
noun
\
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
adjectiveDefinition of lemon (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : of the color lemon yellow
2a : containing lemon
b : having the flavor or scent of lemon
Illustration of lemon
Noun
lemon 1: branch with fruit and flowers
In the meaning defined above
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms & Antonyms for lemon
Synonyms: Noun
bomb, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, clunker, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, loser, miss, turkey, washout
Antonyms: Noun
blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner
Visit the Thesaurus for More
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
Prepare the sauce, whisking together sour cream, mayonnaise, Parmesan, lemon zest, Tabasco, grated onion and mustard. — Julia O'malley, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaskana recipe: Halibut Olympia a little better than you remember," 12 July 2018 In a small sauce pan, combine the water, chickpea flour and lemon zest. — Cincinnati.com, "A gluten-free recipe for big fans of ... gluten," 12 July 2018 Add the vanilla and lemon zest and beat 1 more minute; set aside. — Susan Selasky, charlotteobserver, "Celebrate the Fourth with minimal fuss, maximum flavor," 3 July 2018 Mix in the sugar, thyme and lemon zest, add the salt to taste and reserve. — Caron Golden, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Yogurt: Purely homemade," 25 June 2018 In a small bowl, stir together feta, yogurt, lemon zest and juice, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, adding 1 tablespoon water to thin if necessary. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Dill-Crusted Pork and Farro Salad," 11 June 2018 From chef Dustin Christofolo of Quiessence ½ cup parsley ½ cup sage leaf ½ cup rosemary ½ head of garlic 1 lemon zest and juice 1 lime zest and juice 2 cups olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Preparation: Finely mince herbs and garlic. — Jennifer Mcclellan, azcentral, "Recipes: Summer salads from Arizona chef show it's a great time to eat healthy," 5 June 2018 Featuring bright lemon and bubblegum pink stripes, a flattering silhouette, and low back, this ShopBAZAAR exclusive is the ultimate summer must-have that looks great on the beach and cool on the streets paired with denim cutoffs. — Minna Shim, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Swimsuit You Won't Find Anywhere Else," 29 June 2018 Consider drinks such as Daily Green Purity, which includes kale, cucumber, parsley, broccoli, celery, lemon and basil — and 9 grams of sugars in a 12-ounce bottle. — Consumer Reports, Washington Post, "That juice may be green, but it’s not as healthy as you think," 25 June 2018Recent 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. 2015These 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.
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about lemon
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
8 Common Words from Arabic
8 Common Words from Arabic
Number 4 might scare you
Dictionary Entries near lemon
Statistics for lemon
Last Updated
10 Oct 2018
Look-up Popularity
Time Traveler for lemon
The first known use of lemon was in the 15th century
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for lemon
lemon
nounFinancial 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
: 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
\
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.
Keep scrolling for more
lemon
noun
\
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
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on lemon
What made you want to look up lemon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Words from Greek and Roman Mythology Quiz
-
- Boreal comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of which wind?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Words from Greek and Roman Mythology Quiz
A mythological/etymological mashup!
Take the quiz -
Great Scrabble Words—A Quiz
Words to improve your Scrabble game
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
Syn City
Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.
Play the game
Share lemon
Resources for lemon