lemon
UK: ˈlɛmən | US: ˈlɛmən
n. 1. A yellow, oval citrus fruit with acidic juice.
n. 2. The evergreen tree (genus Citrus) bearing this fruit.
adj. 3. Of a pale yellow color.
vt. 4. (slang) To reject or criticize harshly (e.g., "The studio lemons the script").
The word "lemon" entered English via Old French limon (12th c.), derived from Arabic laymūn or Persian līmūn, ultimately tracing back to Sanskrit nimbū (lime/lemon). The spelling stabilized as "lemon" in English by the 15th century. Unlike many loanwords, it retained its original form without significant morpheme division, reflecting its status as a unified concept borrowed from trade routes.
She added a slice of lemon to her tea for flavor.
The lemon tree in their garden bore fruit year-round.
Her dress was a cheerful lemon yellow.
(Slang) The producer lemons every idea that isn’t commercially safe.
Medieval traders carried lemons from Asia to Europe.