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

Synonyms of melon

• head
• skull
• bean
• noodle
• pate
• dome
• noggin

Examples of melon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cool Pup Cooling Toy works like an edible pupsicle, but it’s made from a melon-scented rubber material and is meant to be frozen with water and licked. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 2 June 2026

Cut the melon off the vine and leave the stem. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 2 June 2026

Over the years, Ashlie and Tyler's garden has grown to include eggplants, melons, turnips, potatoes, apples, peaches, plums, elderberries, and blueberries. —Elizabeth Jardina, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026

Aquatics: Marine notes (such as sea salt, ozone, or even melon) cast you out to sea, perhaps along the Mediterranean coast or the coziness of Cape Cod. —Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 27 May 2026

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