lemon

UK: /ˈlɛmən/ US: /ˈlɛmən/ ,(lem′ən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

lem•on /ˈlɛmən/   n. 

1. Plant Biology the yellowish, acid fruit of a subtropical citrus tree:
   [uncountable] Would you like lemon with your tea?
   [countable] Lemons cost a dollar each there.
2. Plant Biology [countable] the tree itself.
3. [uncountable] a color of yellow much like that of the outside of a lemon.
4. Informal Terms one that proves to be faulty or unsatisfactory;
   dud:
   [countable] Our new car turned out to be a lemon.

adj. [before a noun]

5. made of or with lemon:
   lemon pie.
6. having the color, taste, or odor of lemon.

lem•on•y, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lem•on  (lem′ən), n. 

1. Plant Biology the yellowish, acid fruit of a subtropical citrus tree, Citrus limon.
2. Plant Biology the tree itself.
3. See lemon yellow. 
4. Informal Terms a person or thing that proves to be defective, imperfect, or unsatisfactory;
   dud:
   His car turned out to be a lemon.

adj. 

5. made of or with lemon.
6. having the color, taste, or odor of lemon.

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

lem′on•ish, adj. 
lem′on•like′, lem′on•y, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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
   Related adjective(s): citric, citrine, citrous
2. the yellow oval fruit of this tree, having juicy acidic flesh rich in vitamin C
3. (as modifier): a lemon jelly
4. Also called: lemon yellow a greenish-yellow or strong yellow colour
5. (as adjective): lemon wallpaper
6. a distinctive tart flavour made from or in imitation of the lemon
7. a person or thing considered to be useless or defective

Etymology: 14th Century: from Medieval Latin lemōn-, from Arabic laymūn

ˈlemonish adjective

ˈlemon-ˌlike adjective