melon

noun

mel·​on ˈme-lən 

plural melons

often attributive

1

: any of various typically sweet gourds (such as a muskmelon or watermelon) usually eaten raw as fruits

2

: something rounded like a melon: such as

a

: a rounded organ in the front of the head of some cetaceans and all toothed whales that is composed of lipids and waxy material and is thought to be utilized in echolocation

b

: a person's head

A great afternoon at the park usually meant coming home with blisters on our hands, a bump or two on the melon and the obligatory skinned knee.

—Robb Moretti

3

a

: a surplus of profits available for distribution to stockholders

b

: a financial windfall

Synonyms of melon

• head
• skull
• bean
• noodle
• pate
• dome
• noggin

Examples of melon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This simple method for slicing cantaloupe—and other melons such as honeydew—will take you from whole fruit to neat wedges or bite-size cubes for fruit salads, savory relishes, and more. —Janet McCracken, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 May 2026

Even melons that won't ripen or grow sweeter at room temperature, like honeydew, do become softer and juicier. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 May 2026

Sow seeds of tomatoes, peppers, beets, eggplant, beans, cucumber, corn, squash, melon, chard, and basil. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

The backstory Legend has it that a watermelon stand once occupied the site, and the hotel’s custom bedside lamps include a melon as a wink to its fruity past. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin melon-, melo, short for Latin melopepon-, melopepo, from Greek mēlopepōn, from mēlon apple + pepōn, an edible gourd — more at pumpkin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing melon

• honeydew melon
• melon baller
• winter melon

Rhymes for melon

• felon
• snellen
• tellin
• endothelin
• gibberellin
• watermelon
• muskmelon

Kids Definition

melon

noun

mel·​on ˈmel-ən 

: any of various fruits (as a cantaloupe, honeydew melon, or watermelon) of the gourd family that have juicy and usually sweet flesh eaten raw and a firm rind