melon

[ mel-uhn ]

See synonyms for melon on Thesaurus.com

noun

the fruit of any of various plants of the gourd family, as the muskmelon or watermelon.
medium crimson or deep pink.

the visible upper portion of the head of a surfacing whale or dolphin, including the beak, eyes, and blowhole.
Informal.
- 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.
- any windfall of money to be divided among specified participants.

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 + pépōnpepo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use melon in a sentence

One observer recalled them hitting the ground “like melons,” as the music piped into the plaza played “How Deep Is Your Love?”
The Resilient City: New York After 9/11 | John Avlon | September 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And the few Afghans selling melons, watches, and cellphone credits said they may not vote for president.
Will the Taliban Rock the Vote? | Kim Barker | August 19, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Rocky Ford garden district in Colorado began growing small melons.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942 | Various
Corn, wheat and oats succeed well, together with melons and culinary vegetables of all descriptions.
The Indian in his Wigwam | Henry R. Schoolcraft
Melons are also extensively cultivated here, more particularly in Wadi, and are preserved for some time by hanging.
The Caravan Route between Egypt and Syria | Ludwig Salvator

I wanted to please him, because we were now cracking the melons and scooping out their luscious hearts.
The Iron Puddler | James J. Davis
I thanked Comrade Bannerman for his pamphlets and threw him a few coins to pay for the melons he had given me.
The Iron Puddler | James J. Davis

British Dictionary definitions for melon

melon

/ (ˈmɛlən) /

noun

any of several varieties of two cucurbitaceous vines, cultivated for their edible fruit: See muskmelon, watermelon
the fruit of any of these plants, which has a hard rind and juicy flesh

cut a melon US and Canadian slang to declare an abnormally high dividend to shareholders

Origin of melon

C14: via Old French from Late Latin mēlo, shortened form of mēlopepō, from Greek mēlopepōn, from mēlon apple + pepōn gourd

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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