melon
[ mel-uh n ]
/ ˈmɛl ən /
noun
the fruit of any of various plants of the gourd family, as the muskmelon or watermelon.
medium crimson or deep pink.
the visible upper portion of the head of a surfacing whale or dolphin, including the beak, eyes, and blowhole.
Informal.
- 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.
- any windfall of money to be divided among specified participants.
Origin of melon
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
Words nearby melon
melodrama,
melodramatic,
melodramatize,
melody,
meloid,
melon,
melon dome,
melon foot,
melon pear,
melon seed,
melon shrub
Example sentences from the Web for melon
British Dictionary definitions for melon
melon
/ (ˈmɛlən) /
noun
any of several varieties of two cucurbitaceous vines, cultivated for their edible fruit
See muskmelon, watermelon
the fruit of any of these plants, which has a hard rind and juicy flesh
cut a melon US and Canadian slang
to declare an abnormally high dividend to shareholders
Word Origin for melon
C14: via Old French from Late Latin
mēlo, shortened form of
mēlopepō, from Greek
mēlopepōn, from
mēlon apple +
pepōn gourd