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Watermelon
Definitions
- 1 A plant of the species Citrullus lanatus, bearing a melon-like fruit. countable, uncountable
- 2 large oblong or roundish melon with a hard green rind and sweet watery red or occasionally yellowish pulp wordnet
- 3 The fruit of the watermelon plant, having a green rind and watery flesh that is typically bright red when ripe and contains black seeds. countable, uncountable
- 4 an African melon wordnet
- 5 An environmentalist with socialist leanings, an ecosocialist. countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable
"According to this distorted view of life, environmentalists are watermelons – green on the outside, red on the inside – who want to impose regulation, “the slippery slope to socialism”, on the use of tobacco, ozone-destroying chemicals and greenhouse gases."
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- 6 A pinkish-red colour, like that of watermelon flesh (also called watermelon pink). countable, uncountable
- 7 A project that is presented as on schedule when it actually has parts that are falling behind. countable, uncountable
"The nuts and bolts of any project are transparency. If the project status is transparent, the watermelons can’t arise. If anybody is able to get the information, it will be difficult to hide something."
- 8 A breast, especially that of an adult or adolescent female human. colloquial, countable, slang, uncountable
Etymology
From the 1610s, a compound of water + melon. 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.
See also for "watermelon"
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