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

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

Examples of melon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cut off the rind: Use your knife to trim down the sides of the melon and remove the rind (skip this step if preparing melon slices with the rind on). —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 14 July 2025

Sauvignon Blanc Stags Leap District 2023 (Stags Leap District, Napa Valley) - Bright, medium yellow; aromas of melon, freshly cut grass and spearmint. —Tom Hyland, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Therein lies cantaloupe’s big problem: The chasm between sweet, succulent melon and a sad, sorry excuse for the fruit is wide, with the potential for disappointment lurking in each produce aisle. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025

Rosewater — or orange blossom water — complements the melon, and the granita is served over chunks of fresh melon on a platter. —Los Angeles Times, 6 July 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