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

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

Examples of melon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To lower your risk of foodborne illness, rinse the melon thoroughly and wash it with a clean scrub brush. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025

Octopus with fennel and citrus ($22); Heirloom Tomato Salad with melon and burrata ($19); Gnocchi with beets, corn, charred broccolini and tomatoes ($32); and Caviar Cones with gochujang steak tartare ($15). —Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025

With help from melon antioxidants, peptides, and SPF, the hydrating product shields your skin from harmful rays while also minimizing fine lines. —Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

While the classic pairing elsewhere may be schnitzel with sides of potato and cucumber salads, Gutierrez likes to pair Spätlese with dishes such as oysters with melon granita and halibut with mussel reduction. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 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