Search Dictionary
Definition of winter melon
winter melon
Plural:winter melons
winter melon Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, mild-flavored fruit (Benincasa hispida) with a waxy green skin and white flesh, native to South and Southeast Asia, widely cultivated and eaten as a vegetable in Asian cuisine.
Example
"The chef simmered the winter melon in a rich pork broth until it was tender and translucent."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A calque (literal translation) of the Chinese word 'dōngguā' (冬瓜), named for the fruit's ability to be stored well into the winter months and the frosty, snow-like waxy coating that develops on its skin when mature.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Winter melon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/winter melon