Definition

1. Noun:
   • A plant species: "Citrullus vulgaris" is the former botanical name for the domesticated watermelon, a vine-like flowering plant originally from Africa.
   • The fruit of this plant: It refers specifically to the large, juicy fruit produced by this plant, characterized by a hard green rind and sweet, watery, red or yellow flesh.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Citrullus vulgaris is cultivated in warm climates worldwide for its edible fruit.
  • The seeds of Citrullus vulgaris are often roasted and eaten as a snack.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical or historical contexts: The term "Citrullus vulgaris" is primarily used in scientific, agricultural, or historical texts. In modern botanical taxonomy, the common watermelon is more accurately referred to as .
  • Early agricultural records describe the cultivation of Citrullus vulgaris in ancient Egypt.

Variants and Related Words

• Watermelon (n): The common name for the fruit of .
  • We ate slices of cold watermelon on a hot day.
• Citrullus lanatus (n): The updated, currently accepted scientific name for the same species.
  • The species Citrullus lanatus includes both sweet dessert watermelons and citron melons.

Synonyms

• Watermelon vine: Refers to the plant itself.
• African melon: A descriptive synonym highlighting its geographical origin.

Related Phrases

• No significant phrasal verbs or idioms are directly associated with the scientific name "Citrullus vulgaris." Common phrases use the word "watermelon."
  • To seed a watermelon.
  • A watermelon patch.

Noun

1. an African melon