What does "pomelo" mean?
The large fruit of the Citrus maxima (syn. C. grandis), native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, with a thick green or yellow rind, a thick white pith, and semi-sweet translucent pale flesh.
Pomelo
/ˈpɒmɪləʊ/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The large fruit of the Citrus maxima (syn. C. grandis), native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, with a thick green or yellow rind, a thick white pith, and semi-sweet translucent pale flesh.
- Grammar: pomelo is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: pomelo tree, citrus decumana, citrus grandis, citrus grandis fruit.
- Useful contrasts: inedible fruit.
- Usage evidence: The orange is a hybrid between a pomelo and a mandarin.
How to use "pomelo"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pomelo" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pomelo" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pomelo" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pomelo" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pomelo" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "pomelo tree" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pomelo", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The large fruit of the Citrus maxima (syn. C. grandis), native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, with a thick green or yellow rind, a thick white pith, and semi-sweet translucent pale flesh.
- 2 large pear-shaped fruit similar to grapefruit but with coarse dry pulp wordnet
- 3 The tree which produces this fruit.
- 4 southeastern Asian tree producing large fruits resembling grapefruits wordnet
- 5 The grapefruit. Caribbean, US, archaic
"SHADDOCK, AND POMELO, OR GRAPE-FRUIT. (Citrus aurantium decumana.*) The cultivation of these fruits is extendiug gradually, especially of the pomelo, which is a first-class marketable fruit, very valuable in the spring and early summer."
Synonyms
All synonyms pomelo treecitrus decumanacitrus grandiscitrus grandis fruitcitrus maximacitrus maxima cultivar
Antonyms
inedible fruit
Example
"The orange is a hybrid between a pomelo and a mandarin."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pomelo"?
Common synonyms include: pomelo tree, citrus decumana, citrus grandis, citrus grandis fruit, citrus maxima, citrus maxima cultivar.
How do you use "pomelo" in a sentence?
The orange is a hybrid between a pomelo and a mandarin.
How do you pronounce "pomelo"?
Pronounced /ˈpɒmɪləʊ/.
Etymology
Of uncertain etymology, though possibly a variant of earlier pampelmoes, from French, Dutch, Portuguese sources ultimately equivalent to "thick lemon" or transcribing the Tamil பம்ப ளிமாசு (pampa ḷimācu, “big citrus”). Alternatively, possibly from pome (“apple”) + melon or some cognate; though such a compound is currently unattested, some early variant spellings seem to show influence from pome.