melon

plural melons

1. Some of the plants of the family Cucurbitaceae grown for food, generally not including the cucumber.
   1. countableuncountableGenus Cucumis, the true melon (including various cultigens like honeydew and cantaloupes), the horned melon, and others.
   2. countableuncountableGenus Citrullus, the watermelon and others.
   3. countableuncountableBenincasa hispida, the winter melon.
   4. countableuncountableMomordica charantia, the bitter melon.
2. countableuncountableThe large, round to ovoid fruits that have rinds and are of such plants.

   Six years ago, when Daniel Humm, the 33-year-old executive chef at Eleven Madison Park, was traveling in Barcelona, Spain, he discovered cooks grilling slices of melon and serving them at a tapas bar.

   2010 July 5, Elaine Louie, “The Temporary Vegetarian: Grilled Watermelon and Tomato Salad”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Jul 2010

   1 more example

   The game was up and we began paddling furiously for the opposite shore. This caused Flora to shout all the louder: “Boy! Boys! Don’t let the melons get away. Keep the dadblasted things. If you don’t the whole pack of you will be back to plug and ruin another batch!” So we did, sitting down in a ravine out of sight of the scoutmaster. Red looked up, his florid, freckled face wet with melon, and grinned widely: “You know, fellers, I just don’t know what we’d do without Mr. Flora.” Red was to wind up watermelonless in the U.S. Navy!

   2000, Frank F[urlong] Mathias, “Camp Black Hawk and Carlisle Christianity”, in The GI Generation: A Memoir, Lexington, Ky.: University Press of Kentucky, →ISBN, page 198

3. uncountableA light pinkish orange color, like that of some melon flesh.
4. countableplural normallyslanguncountableThe breasts.

   She indicated her left melon, underneath which lay the heart. “Because you stuck with me, and whether you ever said it or not, that is love.”

   1958, Thomas Berger, Crazy in Berlin

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   “Wait a minute.” I said. “James with another woman? Mommy, that doesn't even sound right?” “It's true. I caught him squeezing her melons.”

   2013, K. L. Brady, Got a Right to Be Wrong, page 107

5. countableslangThe head, the brain.

   Think! Use your melon!

6. AustraliaNew ZealandcountablederogatoryA member of the Green Party, or similar environmental group.
7. countableA mass of adipose tissue found in the forehead of all toothed whales, used to focus and modulate vocalizations.

1. Of a light pinkish orange color, like that of melon flesh.

1. alternativeuncountableAlternative form of mellon.