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

Examples of melon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Think aloe, melon, resort towels, and a tray of cold gin highballs. —Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 20 May 2025

Watermelons thrive in rich soil and full sun, producing harvestable melons just 70 to 100 days after planting. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2025

Fruits like apples, pineapples, melons, and certain vegetables typically cause oral allergies. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 18 Apr. 2025

Start cucumbers, squash and melons in large pots now for transplant in a few weeks or seed them directly in the ground toward the end of the month. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025

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