lemon
Lemon (noun) means a yellow, oval citrus fruit with sour juice. Example: “Squeeze a lemon over the fish before serving.”
How to use lemon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually the citrus fruit, but informally also a broken or disappointing product, especially a faulty car.
Don't confuse with lime, a different, usually smaller and greener citrus fruit.
Word forms
more lemon comparative, lemoned past tense, lemons plural, Lemons plural, lemons singular, most lemon superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Squeeze a _____ over the fish before serving.
Etymology
From Old French lymon, ultimately from Arabic laymūn, tracing back through Persian and Sanskrit — a distant cousin of the word lime.
Related words
Rhymes for lemon
See all rhymes for lemon →Frequently asked questions
What does “lemon” mean?
The word “lemon” means a yellow, oval citrus fruit with sour juice. In plain terms, usually the citrus fruit, but informally also a broken or disappointing product, especially a faulty car.
How do you pronounce “lemon”?
“Lemon” is pronounced LEH-muhn (/ˈlɛmən/ in IPA).
How do you use “lemon” in a sentence?
Here is “lemon” used in a sentence: “Squeeze a lemon over the fish before serving.”
What is another word for “lemon”?
Words with a similar meaning to “lemon” include lemon yellow.
What part of speech is “lemon”?
Depending on how it is used, “lemon” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “lemon” come from?
The word “lemon” comes from Old French. From Old French lymon, ultimately from Arabic laymūn, tracing back through Persian and Sanskrit — a distant cousin of the word lime.
Is “lemon” a common word?
“Lemon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “lemon” have?
“Lemon” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a yellow, oval citrus fruit with sour juice.
What is the difference between a lemon and a lime?
A lemon is a yellow, oval citrus fruit with sour juice, while a lime is typically smaller, green, and slightly more bitter or tart. The most obvious everyday difference is that lemons are yellow and limes are green.
What words commonly go with lemon?
As a fruit, lemon pairs with words like juice, zest, slice, and wedge, as in a squeeze of lemon. It also names the colour lemon yellow and appears in the idiom when life gives you lemons.
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