Illustration of lemon
- branch with fruit and flowers
1
a
: an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree (Citrus limon) and that has a rind from which an aromatic oil is extracted
b
: a tree that bears lemons
2
: something (such as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective
1
: of the color lemon yellow
2
a
: containing lemon
b
: having the flavor or scent of lemon
Synonyms
Examples of lemon in a Sentence
Noun
The recipe calls for the juice of two lemons.
Garnish it with a slice of lemon.
Our new car is a lemon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
The icing was sweet but not cloying, with a touch of lemon.
—Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Ingredients: 3 cups petal infusion, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 box powdered pectin, 4 1/2 cups sugar
Instructions
Boil jars 15 minutes.
—Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
Chandeliers made by the craftsmen who light the Château de Chambord cast a lush glow over lemon trees planted in wooden boxes originally designed for the gardens at Versailles.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Taste and add more salt, lemon juice and butter or olive oil as needed.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2024
Add cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest to stand mixer bowl; switch to the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.
—Joy Howard, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
There are three in all, including an avocado rattle, a taco toy complete with tomato teethers, and a lemon and lime clacker.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
This mix-flavor packet contains watermelon, berry, orange, and lemon flavors and is currently 22 percent off.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024
Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023
With intoxicating notes of lemon essential oil, blackcurrant bud absolute, raspberry rose Damascena essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and musk, the eau is sweet and citrusy yet not too overpowering.
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 22 Nov. 2022
Their other copy of that gene, as well as both copies in non-lemon-frost leopard geckos, did not have those differences in the DNA sequence.
—Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 24 June 2021
And there's a sauce for everyone's taste, from lemon garlic lobster to mango habanero steak and shrimp and chicken bacon ranch dishes.
—Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 27 May 2021
Makes 8 shots 6 ounces dry rosé 1½ ounces Campari
2 ounces lemon juice
½ ounce maraschino cherry liquid
Maraschino cherries, such as Luxardo
In a shaker filled with ice, combine the rosé, Campari, lemon juice, and maraschino cherry liquid.
—Rebekah Peppler, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2019
Make LEMON PUDDING (from a mix) with 1 percent milk for dessert.
—Susan Nicholson, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2017
Jack Rudy Elderflower Tonic .5 oz. Lemon juice 4 oz.
—Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, 18 Dec. 2015
Noun
Melon Herb Chiller: a lemon pinwheel and watermelon mint base poured over ice to add a kick to traditional lemonade.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
The icing was sweet but not cloying, with a touch of lemon.
—Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Ingredients: 3 cups petal infusion, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 box powdered pectin, 4 1/2 cups sugar
Instructions
Boil jars 15 minutes.
—Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
Chandeliers made by the craftsmen who light the Château de Chambord cast a lush glow over lemon trees planted in wooden boxes originally designed for the gardens at Versailles.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Taste and add more salt, lemon juice and butter or olive oil as needed.
—Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2024
Add cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest to stand mixer bowl; switch to the paddle attachment and beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.
—Joy Howard, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
There are three in all, including an avocado rattle, a taco toy complete with tomato teethers, and a lemon and lime clacker.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
This mix-flavor packet contains watermelon, berry, orange, and lemon flavors and is currently 22 percent off.
—Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Order a side of fries, which is big enough to share between two people, and top things off with a lemon Italian ice—the only flavor available.
—Ximena N. Beltran Quan Kiu, Bon Appétit, 16 June 2023
With intoxicating notes of lemon essential oil, blackcurrant bud absolute, raspberry rose Damascena essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, and musk, the eau is sweet and citrusy yet not too overpowering.
—Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 22 Nov. 2022
Their other copy of that gene, as well as both copies in non-lemon-frost leopard geckos, did not have those differences in the DNA sequence.
—Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 24 June 2021
And there's a sauce for everyone's taste, from lemon garlic lobster to mango habanero steak and shrimp and chicken bacon ranch dishes.
—Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 27 May 2021
Makes 8 shots 6 ounces dry rosé 1½ ounces Campari
2 ounces lemon juice
½ ounce maraschino cherry liquid
Maraschino cherries, such as Luxardo
In a shaker filled with ice, combine the rosé, Campari, lemon juice, and maraschino cherry liquid.
—Rebekah Peppler, Bon Appétit, 26 Aug. 2019
Make LEMON PUDDING (from a mix) with 1 percent milk for dessert.
—Susan Nicholson, Twin Cities, 16 Apr. 2017
Jack Rudy Elderflower Tonic .5 oz. Lemon juice 4 oz.
—Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, 18 Dec. 2015
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lemon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English lymon, from Middle French limon, from Medieval Latin limon-, limo, from Arabic laymūn, līmūn, from Persian līmū, līmun
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of lemon was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing lemon
Dictionary Entries Near lemon
Cite this Entry
“Lemon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lemon. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
lemon
noun
lem·on
ˈlem-ən
1
a
: a yellow oblong fruit with sour juice and a thick rind from which a fragrant oil is obtained
b
: a small thorny citrus tree that bears lemons
2
: the color of ripe lemons
3
: one that turns out to be unsatisfactory or disappointing
our new car is a lemon
lemon
adjective
Medical Definition
lemon
noun
lem·on
ˈlem-ən 
: an acid fruit that contains citric acid and vitamin C, is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry, and is produced by a small thorny tree of the genus Citrus (C. limon)
also
: this tree
lemon
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on lemon
Nglish: Translation of lemon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lemon for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lemon
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