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

In a large bowl, toss asparagus, snap peas, leek, and garlic with lemon juice and oil. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Spring Vegetable Pizza," 7 Mar. 2019 Whisk together confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice, and poppy seeds in a bowl (thin with water if needed); drizzle over madeleines. — Taylor Murray, Country Living, "Jasmine Madeleines With Lemon-Poppy Seed Glaze," 1 Mar. 2019 But if that revelation from the Paradise Papers was giving him lemons, Ross found a way to make lemonade. — Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, "GOP repeats ObamaCare mistakes on immigration," 18 June 2018 Fishmonger’s Market’s Baccala salad is piled high with fresh Atlantic salt cod, purple potatoes, garbanzo beans, red onion and a drizzle of olive oil and lemon. — Carolina Gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Salad takes center stage in May at local restaurants for National Salad Month," 24 May 2018 Return the pan to medium-low heat, add the lemon juice to the pan and cook, scraping up all the brown bits, for 1 minute. — Woman's Day, "Roasted Citrus Chicken Salad," 15 Feb. 2019 The plants’ leaves are less pointy and the flowers a more lemon-yellow color. — Lucy Craymer, WSJ, "Dandelions Ruin Your Front Yard but Could Be the Future of the Rubber Industry," 2 Oct. 2018 Zest and juice the lemons, and combine zest and juice with the rest of the dressing ingredients. — Catherine M. Allchin, The Seattle Times, "Meals at Stowel Lake Farm celebrate its organic vegetable garden, and its intergenerational community," 5 Feb. 2019 Before a massage, my therapist hands me a sugary dark-gold juice laced with lemon, ginger, and turmeric. — Jennifer Goldstein, Marie Claire, "How To Spice Up Your Skincare Routine," 18 Jan. 2019

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

14 Mar 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