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.
   to declare an abnormally high dividend to shareholders

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

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

Example Sentences

In 10 to 12 days, adults surface to feast for roughly 90 days on honeydew melon, decaying fruit, plant nectar and bird dung.

From Los Angeles Times

"It was terrifying, but ultimately it was a very beautiful, intimate scene to shoot and thank God she has such a nicely shaped melon."

From BBC

It includes recipes for meyer lemon and bay leaf gelato, jasmine-scented almond milk mousse and fruit pudding made from white melon and orange blossom.

From Salon

Puth wore custom Bode, his shirt embroidered with the wedding date, their chosen phrase — “Us, forever” — and Sansone’s nickname for him, Melon.

From Los Angeles Times

Served in a souvenir highball cup, the $23 dollar drink melds Grey Goose vodka with lemonade and a splash of Chambord raspberry liqueur and is garnished with a trio of melon balls meant to resemble tennis balls.

From Salon

Related Words

• cantaloupe
• gourd
• papaya
• watermelon