lemon

/ˈlemən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlemən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈle-mən/ (ame, mw) · /ˈlem.ən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlem.ən/ (ame, ipa)

lemon — noun

  • lemonsingular
  • lemonsplural

1. A bright yellow oval citrus fruit with thick skin and a notably sour flavour, or

1.名詞A2
釋義

A bright yellow oval citrus fruit with thick skin and a notably sour flavour, or the tree that grows this fruit.

例句

Ife sliced a fresh lemon into her tea to give it a tangy taste.

countable: a + fresh + lemon

The lemon tree in Minh's backyard produced over forty fruits this summer.

lemon + noun: lemon tree

同義詞
  • citrus fruit

    broader category that includes oranges, limes, and grapefruits

  • citron

    a specific related fruit, larger and less juicy than a lemon; uncommon in everyday use

文法句型

lemon + noun (e.g. lemon juice, lemon zest)

a + lemon

常見錯誤

❌I bought a lemon at the store for the defective car.
✅I bought a car that turned out to be a lemon.
💡Sense 4 (defective thing) is a noun phrase applied to a product, not the fruit itself.
❌Lemon is very sour.' (when referring to the fruit in general)
✅Lemons are very sour.
💡The fruit sense is countable; use the plural for generic statements.

2. The tart liquid that comes from a lemon fruit, or a drink produced by mixing tha

2.名詞B1
釋義

The tart liquid that comes from a lemon fruit, or a drink produced by mixing that liquid with water, often with sugar added.

例句

Camila ordered a glass of fresh lemon juice at the café.

uncountable: a glass of + lemon juice

Hiro mixed lemon and honey to make a soothing drink for his sore throat.

同義詞
  • lemonade

    specifically refers to the sweetened drink, not pure lemon juice

  • citrus juice

    broader category that includes orange and grapefruit juice

文法句型

a glass of + lemon (juice)

lemon + in + drink name

用法筆記

Uncountable when referring to the liquid itself ('a bottle of lemon') but countable when referring to individual servings ('two lemons, please' at a drink stand is informal but heard).

常見錯誤

❌I drink lemon every morning.' (ambiguous)
✅I drink lemon juice every morning.' or 'I drink hot water with lemon every morning.
💡Without 'juice' or context, the listener may think of the whole fruit.

3. A light yellow shade that looks like the outer skin of a ripe lemon.

3.名詞B1
釋義

A light yellow shade that looks like the outer skin of a ripe lemon.

例句

Yuna painted her kitchen walls a bright shade of lemon.

countable pattern: a shade/tone of + lemon

The bridesmaids wore dresses in a soft lemon colour that matched the spring flowers.

同義詞
  • lemon yellow

    the full colour name, slightly more precise than 'lemon' alone

  • pale yellow

    more general term that includes other light yellow shades

  • canary yellow

    brighter and more vivid than lemon

文法句型

a shade / tone of + lemon

pale / bright + lemon

4. A manufactured item, especially a vehicle or electronic device, that is faulty a

4.名詞B2
釋義

A manufactured item, especially a vehicle or electronic device, that is faulty and fails to operate correctly.

例句

Christopher's used car was a total lemon; it broke down twice in one week.

informal: a + total + lemon for emphasis

The new tablet was a lemon — the screen went black when Cyrus turned it on.

同義詞
  • dud

    informal; broader — can describe a plan, performance, or firework that fails

  • clunker

    informal; specifically of old, unreliable cars

  • defective product

    neutral, formal term without the informal flavour of 'lemon'

反義詞
  • gem

    informal; something excellent or reliable, opposite of a lemon

文法句型

a + (adjective) + lemon

be + a + lemon

用法筆記

Informal register. Most common with cars and electronics — the phrase 'lemon law' exists in American legal contexts to protect buyers of defective cars. Distinguish from sense 1 (fruit): if the subject is a man-made product, this is the intended reading.

常見錯誤

❌This apple is a lemon.' (if meaning defective)
✅This smartphone is a lemon.
💡'lemon' as a defective product applies only to manufactured items, never to food.

5. A foolish or silly person, often in a particular situation where they have made

5.名詞B2
釋義

A foolish or silly person, often in a particular situation where they have made an embarrassing mistake.

例句

Maja called herself a lemon after locking her keys in the car again.

pattern: call + oneself + a lemon

Don't be such a lemon — the supermarket closed an hour ago.

informal imperative: don't be a lemon

同義詞
  • fool

    neutral register, broader in use

  • idiot

    stronger and more insulting than 'lemon'

  • simpleton

    dated, implies lack of intelligence rather than a momentary mistake

文法句型

be + a + lemon

feel + like + a + lemon

用法筆記

Informal and mildly derogatory, but softer than words like 'idiot' or 'moron'. British English — uncommon in American speech. Typically used after a specific mistake rather than as a permanent label for a person.

常見錯誤

❌He is a lemon' (as a permanent label).
✅I felt such a lemon when I forgot the address.
💡Usually describes a one-time embarrassing situation, not a personality trait.

lemon — adjective