NYT Dictionary

LEMON

/ˈlɛmən/
NounAdjectiveVerbLEM-onlem-on · 2 syllablesGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025

Meaning

A yellowish citrus fruit.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Inherited from Middle English lymon, from Old French lymon (“citrus”), from Arabic لَيْمُون (laymūn) or Classical Persian لِیمُون (līmūn), a variant of Classical Persian لِیمُو (līmū, līmō), from Sanskrit निम्बू (nimbū, “lime”), ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *limaw or Munda. Doublet of lime. The fandom sense is named after the erotic anime series Cream Lemon.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

bombPWPsmutficlemon yellowgambogemaizestinkeracidbeigeberry

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 4 recorded puzzles:

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