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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

As there is only one melon per stem, opposed to one stem bearing multiple pieces of fruit, all the water content is concentrated into each precious piece of fruit. —William Li, Town & Country, 7 Mar. 2023

Tasting notes include ripe fruit and peat smoke on the palate followed by stone fruit, melon and charred heather. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 15 Feb. 2023

The electrolyte packets also come in a variety of flavors including grape, raspberry lemonade, orange, peach, and strawberry melon so there’s sure to be something that suits your taste. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2023

So snack on extra veggies with salsa, add extra tomatoes to a salad, and get generous with your serving sizes of berries, citrus, melon, grapes and other fruits. —Good Housekeeping, 6 Jan. 2023

Boasting notes of tuberose, bergamot, melon, and ylang-ylang. —Julie Tong, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2022

This is a perfect pre-dinner drink or an ideal match for fish, roasted poultry, or other food thanks to its zippy acidity, white flower, melon, and apple notes. —Sunset Staff, Sunset Magazine, 15 Nov. 2022

Students use school garden produce including tomatoes, melon, plums and mint in their dishes. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2022

The blast tore a crater in Vitalii's skull that is as deep and broad as half a melon. —Hanna Arhirova, ajc, 15 Jan. 2023

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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

• winter melon
• honeydew melon
• melon baller

• winter melon
• honeydew melon
• melon baller

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