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

Beekeepers began hauling their hives cross-country to pollinate everything from orchard fruits and nuts, to berries, melons, squashes, sunflowers, cotton, clover, alfalfa, and seed crops. —Literary Hub, 27 May 2026

In late summer, the bounty comes to full fruition with crops like tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, melon and carrots. —Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 27 May 2026

Plants with extensive root systems, like artichokes, asparagus, pumpkins, and melons, grow best with even deeper soil that is 24 to 36 inches deep. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2026

At a mature size, the melons stop growing but continue to absorb moisture and can crack. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 23 May 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