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

While tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers are warm-season crops that only grow during hot weather, many of leafy greens tolerate chilly days and can be started very early in the season. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026

Aside from adding it to fruit salads, try this melon in juices, smoothies, frozen desserts, or even grilled for a leafy green salad. —Christina Manian, Health, 6 Feb. 2026

This can be done with many kinds of plants including beans, peas, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, and miniature melons. —Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026

This melon is also incredibly hydrating, as it's mostly composed of water. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 5 Feb. 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