winter melon

winter melon

n.1. a. A tendril-bearing, sprawling annual plant (Benincasa hispida) widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical Asia for its waxy-skinned edible fruit.b. The fruit of this plant, often cooked as a vegetable or boiled and sweetened as a confection. Also called wax gourd.2. Any of several varieties of melon (Cucumis melo) usually having a smooth hard rind and including the honeydew melon and the crenshaw.

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[Translation of Chinese (Mandarin) dōngguā : dōng, winter + guā, melon (because it keeps well and can be eaten in winter although grown in summer).]

winter melon

n (Plants) a variety of muskmelon, Cucumis melo inodorus, that has sweet fruit with pale orange flesh and an unridged rind. Also called: Persian melon

win′ter mel′on

n. a variety of late-keeping muskmelon, Cucumis melo inodorus, having sweet, edible flesh. [1895–1900]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	winter melon - any of a variety of muskmelon vines having fruit with a smooth white rind and white or greenish flesh that does not have a musky smellCucumis melo inodorus, honeydew melon, Persian melon, winter melon vinewinter melon - the fruit of the winter melon vine; a green melon with pale green to orange flesh that keeps wellCucumis melo, muskmelon, sweet melon, sweet melon vine - any of several varieties of vine whose fruit has a netted rind and edible flesh and a musky smell
	2.	winter melon - the fruit of the winter melon vine; a green melon with pale green to orange flesh that keeps wellmuskmelon, sweet melon - the fruit of a muskmelon vine; any of several sweet melons related to cucumbershoneydew, honeydew melon - the fruit of a variety of winter melon vine; a large smooth greenish-white melon with pale green fleshPersian melon - the fruit of a variety of winter melon vine; a large green melon with orange fleshcasaba, casaba melon - melon having yellowish rind and whitish fleshCucumis melo inodorus, honeydew melon, Persian melon, winter melon, winter melon vine - any of a variety of muskmelon vines having fruit with a smooth white rind and white or greenish flesh that does not have a musky smell