lemon

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. something you buy that does not work well or is broken.

n. a product, particularly a vehicle, that is found to be defective or unsatisfactory after purchase.

“The used car I bought turned out to be a total lemon.”

“After the third breakdown in as many weeks, he realised the dealership had sold him a lemon and began researching consumer protection laws.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. having a pale, bright yellow colour.

adj. of a pale, vibrant yellow hue resembling the skin of a lemon.

“The walls were painted a soft lemon yellow to make the room feel brighter.”

“She chose a lemon-coloured silk for the bridesmaids' dresses, which complemented the spring garden setting perfectly.”

C1 · Advanced Cooking Technical

v. to add lemon juice or zest to food or drink.

v. to season, flavour, or treat a substance with lemon juice or peel.

“The chef decided to lemon the chicken before roasting it.”

“The pastry was lightly lemoned to cut through the sweetness of the meringue topping.”