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

Start cucumbers, squash, pumpkins 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, 6 Apr. 2024

Redolent of white flowers, fresh peach and apricot, on the palate, the wine is tropical-fruited, full-bodied and complex, smacking of tangerine, melon and spices. —Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

One summer evening, in the mid-19th century, Henry David Thoreau threw a party—a melon party, to be precise, a long-standing tradition of his earthy, garden-loving family. —Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2024

Curls of fluke are arranged as if for a bouquet, with melon, cucumber and whatever’s delicious and in season; the clear broth of the ceviche stings, pleasantly so, with serrano. —Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2024

The statement comes after health officials in recent weeks issued a flurry of warnings and recalls over the melons. —Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2024

Experience the ease of melon preparation with this Melon Cutter, a tool designed for flawless slicing and serving. —Priscilla Mak, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2023

The coin, which features a female snowboarder doing a melon grab against a snowy backdrop of Vermont’s peaks, was available on the U.S. Mint website in a 100-coin bag ($117.50) and a 25-coin roll ($34.50) from both the Denver and Philadelphia Mints. —Michelle Bruton, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Inspectors also saw a cut melon on a push cart near a prep sink, and asked employees to discard the fruit. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024

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
• winter 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