watermelon
n. C / Un. a large, round fruit with a hard green skin and sweet red flesh inside. It contains a lot of water and is popular in the summer.
n. a large, globose or oblong fruit of a vine in the gourd family, characterized by a thick green rind and watery, typically red pulp.
We always eat cold watermelon at the beach.
The children competed to see who could spit their watermelon seeds the farthest across the lawn.
Agricultural scientists have developed seedless varieties of watermelon to satisfy consumer demand for convenience, though some traditionalists argue these lack the depth of flavor found in heirloom types.
From the 1610s, a compound of water + melon. Compare French melon d'eau, German Wassermelone, and Spanish melón de agua. The meanings referring to environmentalists and behind-schedule projects derive from the idea of having a green (eco-friendly, on-schedule) outward appearance while being red (socialist, behind schedule) in a hidden way comparable to that of the fruit.
Uncountable when referring to the fruit as a food substance; countable when referring to the whole fruit or specific botanical varieties.