lemon

[lem-uhn]

noun

1. the yellowish, acid fruit of a subtropical citrus tree, Citrus limon.

2. the tree itself.

3. lemon yellow.

4. Informal.,  a person or thing that proves to be defective, imperfect, or unsatisfactory; dud.

   His car turned out to be a lemon.

adjective

1. made of or with lemon.

2. having the color, taste, or odor of lemon.

lemon

/ ˈlɛmən /

noun

1. a small Asian evergreen tree, Citrus limon, widely cultivated in warm and tropical regions, having pale green glossy leaves and edible fruits

2. 1. the yellow oval fruit of this tree, having juicy acidic flesh rich in vitamin C

   2. ( as modifier )

      a lemon jelly

3. Also called: lemon yellow. 

   1. a greenish-yellow or strong yellow colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      lemon wallpaper

4. a distinctive tart flavour made from or in imitation of the lemon

5. slang,  a person or thing considered to be useless or defective

Other Word Forms

• lemonish adjective
• lemonlike adjective
• lemony adjective
• lemon-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lemon¹

1350–1400; 1905–10 lemon for def. 4; < Medieval Latin lemōnium; replacing Middle English lymon < Medieval Latin līmō, (stem līmōn- ) < Persian līmū, līmun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lemon¹

C14: from Medieval Latin lemōn-, from Arabic laymūn

Example Sentences

The quiet, practiced awareness of how flavors talk to one another — the way lemon steadies cream or how a drizzle of honey can round off a salt edge.

Read more on Salon

Joshi, 24, was part of a group of Nepali college students who had just arrived in Israel for an agricultural program on tending orange and lemon groves in Alumim, a kibbutz, when the Oct.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

F&F’s tender, pillowy pies come in variations like hot sausage and brown-butter sage, and a clam pizza with fresh lemon and red chile flakes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“It kind of felt to me that I had squeezed everything out of the lemon. There was nothing left,” Robitaille said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She added that "sometimes life throws you lemons" but you have to "make lemonade".

Read more on BBC