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

LEMONS 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