¹lemon

noun lem·on \ˈle-mən\

: a yellow citrus fruit that has a sour taste

: a bright yellow color

: a product that is not made well : a product that does not work the way it should

Full Definition of LEMON

a : an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree (Citrus limon) and that has a rind from which an aromatic oil is extracted

b : a tree that bears lemons

: one (as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective

See lemon defined for English-language learners

See lemon defined for kids

Illustration of LEMON

Origin of LEMON

Middle English lymon, from Middle French limon, from Medieval Latin limon-, limo, from Arabic laymūn, līmūn, from Persian līmū, līmun

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to LEMON

Synonyms: bomb, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, clunker, debacle (also débâcle), disaster, dud, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, failure, loser, miss, shipwreck, turkey, washout

Antonyms: blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with LEMON

Bremen, leman, Yemen

²lemon

adjective

Definition of LEMON

: of the color lemon yellow

a : containing lemon

b : having the flavor or scent of lemon

First Known Use of LEMON

1598

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

LEMON[1] Defined for Kids

lemon

noun lem·on \ˈle-mən\

Definition of LEMON for Kids

: an oval yellow fruit with a sour juice that is related to the orange and grows on a small spiny tree

: something unsatisfactory : dud <The used car was a lemon.>

Medical Dictionary

lemon

noun lem·on \ˈlem-ən\

Medical Definition of LEMON

: an acid fruit that contains citric acid and vitamin C, is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry, and is produced by a small thorny tree of the genus Citrus (C. limon); also : this tree

—lemon adjective