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

Examples of melon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Featuring top notes of green tuberose, melon and chrysanthemum, the fragrance will leave you with zero reservations—except the one to your luxury getaway. —Pooja Shah, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Cantaloupe Cantaloupe is a melon with an orange inside flesh. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 16 Jan. 2025

The melon is a protrusion on a beluga’s forehead, made up of fatty tissue and muscle. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 13 Dec. 2024

For instance, Yoshi’s Smoothie at Yoshi’s Snack Island will be apple melon flavored instead of melon mint. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 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