lemon
n. countable A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈɫɛmən// UK //lˈɛmən// lemon
n. a yellow fruit with a sour taste. You can also use this word to describe a car or machine that does not work properly.
n. a pale yellow, oval citrus fruit with thick skin and very sour juice. In informal contexts, refers to a vehicle or mechanical device that is defective or unreliable.
I always put a slice of lemon in my tea.
The used car I bought turned out to be a total lemon, breaking down just three days after I took it home.
While the chef used lemon zest to brighten the heavy cream sauce, the restaurant's aging refrigerator proved to be a lemon and failed during the dinner rush.
Usage
Countable when referring to the fruit or the defective machine; uncountable when referring to the flavor or juice in general.