lemon

[lem-uhn]

noun

1. the yellowish, acid fruit of a subtropical citrus tree, Citrus limon.

2. the tree itself.

3. lemon yellow.

4. Informal.,  a person or thing that proves to be defective, imperfect, or unsatisfactory; dud.

   His car turned out to be a lemon.

adjective

1. made of or with lemon.

2. having the color, taste, or odor of lemon.

lemon

/ ˈlɛmən /

noun

1. a small Asian evergreen tree, Citrus limon, widely cultivated in warm and tropical regions, having pale green glossy leaves and edible fruits

2. 1. the yellow oval fruit of this tree, having juicy acidic flesh rich in vitamin C

   2. ( as modifier )

      a lemon jelly

3. Also called: lemon yellow. 

   1. a greenish-yellow or strong yellow colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      lemon wallpaper

4. a distinctive tart flavour made from or in imitation of the lemon

5. slang,  a person or thing considered to be useless or defective

Other Word Forms

• lemon-like adjective
• lemonish adjective
• lemonlike adjective
• lemony adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lemon¹

1350–1400; 1905–10 lemon for def. 4; < Medieval Latin lemōnium; replacing Middle English lymon < Medieval Latin līmō, (stem līmōn- ) < Persian līmū, līmun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lemon¹

C14: from Medieval Latin lemōn-, from Arabic laymūn

Example Sentences

The main course, a whole fried sea bream, served with a ginger fish sauce caramel, peanuts, herbs, lemon, and wild pepper leaves to delicately wrap each fried morsel, truly blew me away.

From Salon

Corkscrew pasta with spring vegetables — peas, maybe some asparagus, curls of lemon zest — topped with herbed breadcrumbs and a horseradish cream sauce.

From Salon

The lemons aren’t just used for juicing; their peels are also muddled with sugar, allowing the essential oils of the lemon to come out and produce a more fragrant flavor.

From Salon

Then, a splash of acid, like a squeeze of lemon or a finger’s flick of vinegar to carve a little brightness into the shadows.

From Salon

She shows me ripening limes and lemons inside her allotment greenhouse.

From BBC