melon

mel-on · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large, round or oval fruit with sweet, juicy flesh and many seeds, belonging to the gourd family.

  2. 2.

    Any of various plants of the gourd family that produce such fruit.

  3. 3.

    (slang) A person's head.

Forms

plural: melons

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    honeydew melon — a type of melon with pale green flesh
  • •
    watermelon — a large melon with red flesh and black seeds

Related words

See also: cantaloupe, fruit, gourd, watermelon
Synonyms: gourd

Etymology

From Late Latin melopepo, from Greek melopepon, a type of melon (literally "apple-gourd"), from melon ("apple") + pepon ("ripe"). The word entered English via Old French melon in the 14th century.