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

Examples of melon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The alcoholic beverage comes with Jameson Irish whiskey, melon liqueur, blue Curaçao, premium lemon sour and lemon-lime soda with a gold sugar rim. —Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025

Manicurist Monika Mayer’s sunset ombré encapsulates some of those juicy melon shades and brighter pinks that our nail experts already have their eye on for spring. —Mica Ricketts, refinery29.com, 5 Mar. 2025

The containers of cut melons on the shelf that should have been under 41 degrees for safe-keeping measured 42 to 48 degrees. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2025

Make watermelon ice or popsicles Mix watermelon with other melons and add a dash of lime juice Add watermelon to a grain bowl with avocado, veggies, nuts, and fresh herbs. 12. —Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 21 Jan. 2025

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