watermelon
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Watermelon, melon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are all related fruits, but they differ in appearance and taste. Melon is the broadest term—it covers any sweet fruit from the gourd family with a thick rind and juicy flesh. Watermelon is the largest, with green striped skin and red or pink flesh that is very watery. Cantaloupe has a rough, netted brownish skin and orange flesh with a sweet, musky flavour. Honeydew has a smooth pale green or yellow skin and light green flesh that is mild and sweet. If you want a refreshing, hydrating snack on a hot day, watermelon is the best choice. For a sweeter, denser dessert flavour, choose cantaloupe. Honeydew works well in fruit salads because its mild taste pairs easily with other fruits.
Common collocations
Nouns
- watermelon seed
- watermelon rind
- watermelon flesh
- watermelon juice
Phrases
- watermelon stand
- watermelon season
- seedless watermelon
Prepositions
- slice of watermelon
- piece of watermelon
Etymology
The word watermelon comes from combining water and melon. The fruit is about 92 percent water, which explains the first part. Melon comes from Old French meloun, from Latin melonem, from Greek melopepon, meaning 'apple-shaped gourd.' Watermelon was first recorded in English in the early 1600s, though the fruit itself was grown in Africa thousands of years before that.