Definition

Noun: 1. A large, mild-flavored fruit: A type of melon (Benincasa hispida) with a hard, green rind and white or pale green flesh that is often used in cooking, especially in Asian cuisines. It is known for its long storage life. 2. The vine that produces this fruit: The plant on which the winter melon grows.

Examples of Usage

• As a fruit:
  • The soup was made with winter melon, pork, and dried scallops.
  • She bought a whole winter melon to make a sweet dessert soup.
• As a plant:
  • The winter melon vine needs plenty of space to spread in the garden.

Advanced Usage

• "Winter melon" vs. other melons: Unlike cantaloupe or honeydew, winter melon has a very mild, almost bland flavor and is almost always cooked. It is valued for its ability to absorb the flavors of the ingredients it is cooked with.
• Culinary context: It is a staple in savory dishes like braises, stir-fries, and soups. It is also used to make a sweet drink or tea, often called "winter melon tea" or "winter melon punch."

Variants and Related Words

• Ash gourd: Another common name for the winter melon, referring to the waxy, ash-colored coating on its mature rind.
• White gourd: Another name emphasizing the color of the flesh and the pale rind when the waxy coating is removed.
• Wax gourd: Another name highlighting the natural waxy coating on the rind.
• Tongan: A specific variety of winter melon.

Synonyms

• Ash gourd
• Wax gourd
• White gourd

Related Phrases

• Winter melon soup: A common dish, which can be savory (often with meat or seafood) or sweet.
• Winter melon tea: A beverage made by boiling winter melon with sugar, often served cold.

Noun

1. the fruit of the winter melon vine; a green melon with pale green to orange flesh that keeps well
2. 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