melon

American  

[mel-uhn] / ˈmɛl ən /

noun

1. the fruit of any of various plants of the gourd family, as the muskmelon or watermelon.

2. medium crimson or deep pink.

3. the visible upper portion of the head of a surfacing whale or dolphin, including the beak, eyes, and blowhole.

4. Informal.

   1. a large extra dividend, often in the form of stock, to be distributed to stockholders.

      Profits zoomed so in the last quarter that the corporation cut a nice melon.

   2. any windfall of money to be divided among specified participants.

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melon British  

/ ˈmɛlən /

noun

1. any of several varieties of two cucurbitaceous vines, cultivated for their edible fruit See muskmelon watermelon

2. the fruit of any of these plants, which has a hard rind and juicy flesh

3. slang to declare an abnormally high dividend to shareholders

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Etymology

Origin of melon

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin mēlōn- (stem of mēlō ), short for mēlopepō < Greek mēlopépōn apple-shaped melon, equivalent to mêlo ( n ) apple + pépōn pepo

Example Sentences

He owns a large farming operation that grows sugar beets, alfalfa and melons and is one of the largest operators in the area.

From Los Angeles Times

On a recent weekday, Gao, her husband, daughter and niece left with a cart full of snacks, including melon milk drinks and a Swiss roll cake.

From The Wall Street Journal

Abatti owns a large farming operation in the Imperial Valley, growing crops including sugar beets, alfalfa and melons.

From Los Angeles Times

They worked a week picking melons, got their $600 paycheck and never returned.

From Los Angeles Times

Plants in the gourd family, including pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, and zucchini, are known for accumulating high levels of pollutants in their fruit.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• cantaloupe
• gourd
• papaya
• watermelon