Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for melon

melon

[ mel-uhn ]

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.


melon

/ 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. cut a melon slang.
    cut a melon to declare an abnormally high dividend to shareholders


Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of melon1

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

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of melon1

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

Discover More

Example Sentences

Rhode Island Reds will not eat melon rinds, banana peels, orange skins, pickles, or onions, F.Y.I.

Do they realize that karela is a bitter melon, popular from China and India to Trinidad and Vietnam?

The man who wrote about hulking linebackers nibbling melon in the Texas dusk.

But how could they bronze that stubby little body, the melon head, the double chin?

Rachel “Bunny” Melon wanted John to be the next president so he could “rescue America.”

"Take some melon, Mr. Mudge," said we, as with a sudden bolt we recovered our speech and took another slice ourself.

The bread-fruit is somewhat similar in shape to a water-melon, and weighs from four to six pounds.

Neither the pine-apple nor water-melon grow in Teneriffe, but abundance of the latter are brought from Grand Canary.

We left Parkers melon on his doorstep to chaperon itself, and turned back with him.

As we came out we saw across the court that the melon had been taken in, so judged that Parker had returned.

Advertisement

Related Words

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


meloidmelon-bulb