lemon

Dictionary: lem·on   (lĕm'ən)

1. 1. A spiny, Asian evergreen tree (Citrus limon) widely cultivated for its yellow, egg-shaped fruit.
   2. The fruit of this tree, having a yellow aromatic rind and juicy, acid pulp.
2. Lemon yellow.
3. Informal. One that is unsatisfactory or defective: Their new car turned out to be a lemon.

1. Lemon-yellow.
2. 1. Made from lemons.
   2. Tasting or smelling like lemons.

[Middle English limon, from Old French, from Old Italian limone, from Arabic laymūn, līmūn, from Persian līmūn.]

WORD HISTORY   Although we know neither where the lemon was first grown nor when it first came to Europe, we know from its name that it came to us from the Middle East because we can trace its etymological path. One of the earliest occurrences of our word is found in a Middle English customs document of 1420–1421. The Middle English word limon goes back to Old French limon, showing that yet another delicacy passed into England through France. The Old French word probably came from Italian limone, another step on the route that leads back to the Arabic word laymūn or līmūn, which comes from the Persian word līmūn.

The fruit Citrus limon. The yellow fruits are medium-sized and elongate with a prominent nipple. The lemon is more sensitive to cold than other major citrus fruits, and thus its commercial culture is restricted to areas with mild winter temperatures.

The lemon is grown primarily for its acid flavor. Lemon juice, very high in vitamin C, is used in beverages and has many culinary uses. It is also used widely in proprietary soft drinks. The principal by-products are citric acid from the juice and lemon oil from the peel. See also Ascorbic acid.

Commercial lemon production developed first in Italy, mainly in Sicily. Italy is the largest producer, followed by California. Spain, Greece, and Argentina are also significant producers.

A very disappointing investment. Your expected return wasn't even close to being achieved.

Investopedia Says:
Just like the used car that breaks down while driving out of the lot, these investments leave a bitter taste.

Product or investment producing poor performance. A car that continually needs repairs is a lemon, and consumers are guaranteed a full refund in several states under so-called lemon laws. A promising stock that fails to live up to expectations is also called a lemon.

Product or investment producing poor performance. A car that continually needs repairs is a lemon, and consumers are guaranteed a full refund in several states under so-called lemon laws. A promising stock that fails to live up to expectations is also called a lemon.

Sour yellow fruit of Citrus limon. A 100-g portion of fruit, or 100 ml of juice, is a rich source of vitamin C; supplies 7 kcal (28 kJ).

Throughout the eons, lemons have been used for a multitude of nonculinary purposes-as an epilepsy remedy, a toothpaste, an invisible ink and a bleaching agent as well as in witchcraft. Though it originated in Southeast Asia, the lemon is now cultivated in tropical and temperate climates around the world, with California leading production in the United States. This bright yellow citrus fruit is oval in shape, with a pronounced bulge on the blossom end. The flesh is juicy and acidic. The lemon can range in size from that of a large egg to that of a small grapefruit. Some have thin skins while others have very thick rinds, which are used to make candied lemon peel. Lemons are available year-round with a peak during the summer months. Choose fruit with smooth, brightly colored skin with no tinge of green (which signals underripeness). Lemons should be firm, plump and heavy for their size. Depending on their condition when purchased, they can be refrigerated in a plastic bag for 2 to 3 weeks. The lemon has a multitude of culinary uses for dishes sweet to savory, as well as a flavoring in many drinks. Few foods add such flavor magic as the simple lemon. Bottled and frozen lemon juice are also available in most supermarkets. The frozen juice is a passable substitute but the bottled product bears little resemblance to the real thing. Though the lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C (one provides 40 to 70 percent of the minimum daily requirement), it begins to lose its vitamin power soon after it's squeezed. There's a 20 percent loss of vitamin C after only 8 hours at room temperature or 24 hours in the refrigerator. See also meyer lemon.

noun

One that fails completely: bust, failure, fiasco, loser, washout. Informal dud, flop. Slang bomb. See thrive/fail/exist.

(click to enlarge)
Lemon (Citrus limon) (credit: J. Horace McFarland Co.)

Small thorny tree or spreading bush (Citrus limon) of the rue (or citrus) family and its edible fruit. Under the yellow outer rind or peel is the white, spongy inner peel, the source of commercial pectin. The juicy pulp is acidic and rich in vitamin C and contains smaller amounts of B vitamins. The climates of coastal Italy and California are especially favourable for the cultivation of lemon trees, which in these regions produce fruit 6 – 10 times a year. Lemon juice enhances many dishes, and lemonade is a popular warm-weather beverage. Lemon by-products are used in beverages (citric acid), fruit jellies (pectin), and furniture polish (lemon oil).

For more information on lemon, visit Britannica.com.

Refreshing and cooling, the rind of the lemon is made into an aromatherapy oil which is beneficial in skincare preparations for its cleansing properties. It has a clean and tangy fragrance. Lemon oil may be used in the treatment of athlete's foot, chilblains, colds, corns, dull skin, flu, oily skin, spots, varicose veins, and warts.

Safety Precautions: May cause skin sensitivity or irritation. Do not use if the area of application will be exposed to sunlight for 24 hours due to its photo toxicity.

This article is about the fruit. For other uses, see Lemon (disambiguation).

Lemon
Citrus limon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Sapindales Family: Rutaceae Genus: Citrus Species: C. limon
Binomial name
Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f.
Lemon and Lime output in 2005

The lemon is the common name for Citrus limon. The reproductive tissue surrounds the seed of the angiosperm lemon tree. The lemon is used for both culinary and nonculinary purposes throughout the world. The fruit is used primarily for its juice, though the pulp and rind (zest) are also used, primarily in cooking and baking. Lemon juice is about 5% (approximately 0.3 mole per liter) citric acid, which gives lemons a tart taste, and a pH of 2 to 3. This makes lemon juice an inexpensive, readily available acid for use in educational science experiments. Because of the tart flavor, many lemon-flavored drinks and candies are available on the market, including lemonade.

Contents 1 History 2 Varieties 3 Culinary uses 4 Non-culinary uses 5 Potential medicinal use 6 Lemon alternatives 7 Production 8 References 9 See also 10 External links

History

Two lemons, one whole and one sliced in half

The exact origin of the lemon has remained a mystery, though it is widely presumed that lemons first grew in India, northern Burma, and China.^[1][2] In South and South East Asia, it was known for its antiseptic properties and it was used as an antidote for various poisons. It was later introduced to Persia and then to Iraq and Egypt around AD 700. The lemon was first recorded in literature in a tenth century Arabic treatise on farming, and was also used as an ornamental plant in early Islamic gardens.^[1][2] It was distributed widely throughout the Arab world and the Mediterranean region between AD 1000 and AD 1150.

Citrus x limon flowers.

Pickled lemons, a Moroccan delicacy

Lemons entered Europe (near southern Italy) no later than the first century AD, during the time of Ancient Rome. However, they were not widely cultivated. The first real lemon cultivation in Europe began in Genoa in the middle of the fifteenth century.^[2] It was later introduced to the Americas in 1493 when Christopher Columbus brought lemon seeds to Hispaniola along his voyages. Spanish conquest throughout the New World helped spread lemon seeds. It was mainly used as ornament and medicine.^[2] In 1700s and late 1800s, lemons were increasingly planted in Florida and California when lemons began to be used in cooking and flavoring.^[3]

In 1747, James Lind's experiments on seamen suffering from scurvy involved adding Vitamin C to their diets through lemon juice.^[4]

The name lemon was originated from Arabic līmūn لیمون and Persian limun through Old Italian and Old French limone.^[5][6][7]

Varieties

• Meyer lemon - Is a cross between a lemon and possibly an orange or a mandarin, was named for Frank N. Meyer who first discovered it in 1908. Thin-skinned and slightly less acidic than the Lisbon and Eureka lemons, Meyer lemons require more care when shipping and are not widely grown on a commercial basis.
• Lisbon - A good quality bitter lemon with high juice and acid levels. The fruits of Eureka and Lisbon are very similar. Vigorous and productive, trees are very thorny particularly when young.
• Eureka
• Verna - A Spanish variety of unknown origin.^[8]
• Bush Lemon Tree - Naturalized lemon grown wild in subtropical Australia. They are very hardy, have a thick skin with a true lemon flavour. Grows to about 4m in a sunny position. The skin makes a good zest for cooking.
• Villafranca^[9]
• Lemonade
• West Indian or Mexican or Key
• Tahitian or Persian

Culinary uses

Lemon marmalade on a slice of bread

Lemons are used to make lemonade, and as a garnish for drinks. Many mixed drinks, soft drinks, iced tea, and water are often served with a wedge or slice of lemon in the glass or on the rim. The average lemon contains approximately 3 tablespoons of juice. Allowing lemons to come to room temperature before squeezing (or heating briefly in a microwave) makes the juice easier to extract. Lemons left unrefrigerated for long periods of time are susceptible to mold.

Fish are marinated in lemon juice to neutralize the odor. The acid neutralizes the amines in fish by converting them into nonvolatile ammonium salts.

Lemon juice, alone or in combination with other ingredients, is used to marinate meat before cooking: the acid provided by the juice partially hydrolyzes the tough collagen fibers in the meat (tenderizing the meat), though the juice does not have any antibiotic effects.

Lemons, alone or with oranges, are used to make marmalade. The grated rind of the lemon, called lemon zest, is used to add flavor to baked goods, puddings, rice and other dishes. Pickled lemons are a Moroccan delicacy. A liqueur called limoncello is made from lemon rind.

When lemon juice is sprinkled on certain foods that tend to oxidize and turn brown after being sliced, such as apples, bananas and avocados, the acid acts as a short-term preservative by denaturing the enzymes that cause browning and degradation.

Non-culinary uses

A lemon orchard in the Galilee of Israel.

Lemon in the process of ripening

• Citric acid - Lemons were the primary commercial source of this substance prior to the development of fermentation-based processes.
• Lemon battery - A popular science experiment in schools involves attaching electrodes to a lemon and using it as a battery to power a light. The electricity generated in this way can also power a small motor. These experiments also work with other fruits and vegetables.
• Sanitary kitchen deodorizer - deodorize, remove grease, bleach stain, and disinfect; when mixed with baking soda, lemon can remove stains from plastic food storage containers.^[10]
• Insecticide - The d-limonene in lemon oil is used as a non-toxic insecticide treatment. See orange oil.
• Wood treatment - the traditional lemon oil used on the unsealed rosewood fingerboards of guitars and other stringed instruments is not made from lemons. It's a different product altogether, made from mineral oil and a solvent, usually naphtha, and got its name from its color and tart smell, and should not be confused with the corrosive oil of lemons.
• A halved lemon is used as a finger moistener for those counting large amounts of bills such as tellers and cashiers.
• Aromatherapy - Researchers at the Ohio State University reveals that lemon oil aroma may enhance your mood, and relax you.^[11]
• A halved lemon dipped in salt or baking powder can be used as an eco-friendly cleaning agent to brighten copper cookware or countertops. The acid cuts through the tarnish and the abrasives assist the cleaning.
• Lemon juice may also be used lighten hair color.^[12]

Potential medicinal use

It has been reported that lemon aroma is of the function which agitates animals ^[13]. Other applications include the use of its essential oil as anti-bacterial agent ^[14], such as commercial disinfectant products ^{[15], [16]}.

Lemon alternatives

Several other plants have a similar taste to lemons. In recent times, the Australian bush food lemon myrtle has become a popular alternative to lemons.^[17] The crushed and dried leaves and edible essential oils have a strong, sweet lemon taste but contain no citric acid. Lemon myrtle is popular in foods that curdle with lemon juice, such as cheesecake and ice cream. Limes are often used instead of lemons.

Many other plants are noted to have a lemon-like taste or scent. Among them are Cymbopogon (lemon grass), lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemon verbena, scented geraniums, certain cultivars of basil, and certain cultivars of mint.

Production

India tops the production list with ~16% of the world's overall lemon and lime output followed by Mexico(~14.5%), Argentina(~10%), Brazil(~8%) and Spain(~7%).

Top Ten Lemons and Limes Producers — 2007
Country	Production (Tonnes)
India	2,060,000F
Mexico	1,880,000F
Argentina	1,260,000F
Brazil	1,060,000F
Spain	880,000F
People's Republic of China	745,100F
United States	722,000
Turkey	706,652
Iran	615,000F
Italy	546,584
World	13,032,388F
No symbol = official figure, F = FAO estimate, A = Aggregate(may include official, semi-official or estimates); Source: Food And Agricultural Organization of United Nations: Economic And Social Department: The Statistical Devision

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Wright, A. Clifford. History of Lemonade, CliffordAWright.com
2. ^ ^{a b c d} The origins, limmi.it.
3. ^ Morton, J. 1987. Lemon. p. 160–168. Fruits of warm climates. (Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL.) @ Purdue University
4. ^ Case 3: Naval Medicine: The Fight Against Scurvy @ King's College at London. Information on this site is based from: James Lind. A treatise on the scurvy. Second edition. London: printed for A. Millar, 1757. [St. Thomas's Historical Collection 28.b.9].
5. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. Entry for Lemon
6. ^ History of Lemon, Food Resource @ Oregon State University.
7. ^ Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Entry for Lemon
8. ^ http://www.australiancitrusgrowers.com/aspdev/resources/documents/Verna9-02.pdf
9. ^ http://9am.ten.com.au/lemon-trees.htm
10. ^ 6 ingredients for a green, clean home, Shine. Retrieved on April 24, 2008.
11. ^ 9 Ohio State University Research, March 3, 2008 Study is published in the March 2008 issue of the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology
12. ^ "Lighten hair with lemon juice. Does it work? Will lemon juice dye my hair blonde? Questions & Answers, Hair Advice by Hairstyle.com Experts! Got a hair question? Let us answer your questions!". www.hairstyle.com. http://www.hairstyle.com/hair-advice/lighten-hair-with-lemon-juice.htm. Retrieved on 2009-06-20. 
13. ^ Ceccarelli, Ilaria et al. (2004). "Effects of long-term exposure of lemon essential oil odor on behavioral, hormonal and neuronal parameters in male and female rats". Brain Research 1001 (1 - 2): 78 - 86. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2003.10.063. 
14. ^ Viuda-Martos, M. et al. (2008). "ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF LEMON (CITRUS LEMON L.), MANDARIN (CITRUS RETICULATA L.), GRAPEFRUIT (CITRUS PARADISI L.) AND ORANGE (CITRUS SINENSIS L.) ESSENTIAL OILS". Journal of Food Safety 28 (4): 567 - 576. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121476938/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0. Retrieved on 27 June. 
15. ^ Lysol. "Lysol: 4 In 1 Disinfectant Lemon Breeze Scent All Purpose Cleaner - Pour, 40 fl oz". http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11047260. Retrieved on 27 June 2009. 
16. ^ N/A. "Pine O Cleen All In 1 Disinfectant Wipes Lemon Lime 40 pack". https://www.colesonline.com.au/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=13551&storeId=14551&productId=1222065&langId=-1&categoryId=&parent_category_rn=&useropt=browse&shopTabCategoryId=&sourcePage=SITE_SEARCH. Retrieved on 27 June 2009. 
17. ^ Lemon Myrtle

See also

• alpha-Pinene
• beta-Pinene
• Citral
• Limonene

External links

• (Purdue University) Morton, Julia F. 1987. "Lemon". pp. 160–168, in Fruits of warm climates. (Julia F. Morton, Miami)
• PlantFiles: Citrus x meyeri 'Meyer'
• Menton Lemon Festival

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - citron, kedeligt drys
adj. - citrongul

idioms:

• lemon curd    smørepålæg med citronsmag
• lemon sole    søtunge

Nederlands (Dutch)
citroen, miskleun (oen), lelijk meisje, teleurstelling, citroengeel

Français (French)
n. - citronnier, citron, jaune citron (la couleur), bête (hum), idiot, (US) navet (film)
adj. - jaune citron, de citron, au citron

idioms:

• lemon curd    (GB) crème de citron
• lemon sole    (GB) limande-sole

Deutsch (German)
n. - Zitrone, Zitronenbaum, nutzlose Person od. Sache
adj. - zitronengelb, zitronenfarben, Zitronen-

idioms:

• lemon curd    Zitronencreme
• lemon sole    Seezunge

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (φυτολ.) λεμόνι, (μτφ.) λεμονί χρώμα, (καθομ.) "φόλα", αποτυχία
adj. - λεμονής

idioms:

• lemon curd    κρέμα λεμονιού (ιδ. για ζαχαροπλαστική γέμιση)
• lemon sole    (ιχθυολ.) γλώσσα η λασκαρίς

Italiano (Italian)
limone, giallo limone

idioms:

• lemon curd    crema al limone
• lemon sole    tipo di sogliola

Português (Portuguese)
n. - limão (m) (Bot.), limoeiro (m) (Bot.)
adj. - de limão, cor de limão

idioms:

• lemon curd    pasta (f) de limão
• lemon sole    espécie de peixe

Русский (Russian)
лимон, лимонный цвет, негодная вещь, неприятная личность

idioms:

• lemon curd    лимонный мармелад
• lemon sole    камбала европейская

Español (Spanish)
n. - limón, limonero, color limón
adj. - cítrico, de limón, cetrino

idioms:

• lemon curd    crema de limón
• lemon sole    lenguado, suela (pez), tipo de platija similar al lenguado

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - citron, citronträd, citronfärg, (sl.) torrboll, torrdocka, (sl.) fiasko, besvikelse, otur, omöjlig grej
adj. - citronfärgad, citrongul

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
柠檬, 柠檬色, 柠檬树, 含柠檬的, 柠檬色的, 柠檬味的

idioms:

• lemon curd    柠檬酪, 一种柠檬鸡蛋黄油等制作的甜食多用作馅心
• lemon sole    檬鲽, 细头油鲽

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 檸檬, 檸檬色, 檸檬樹
adj. - 含檸檬的, 檸檬色的, 檸檬味的

idioms:

• lemon curd    檸檬酪, 一種檸檬雞蛋黃油等製作的甜食多用作餡心
• lemon sole    檬鰈, 細頭油鰈

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 레몬, 담황색, 불량품, 가슴
adj. - 레몬으로 만든, 레몬색의

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - レモン, レモンの木, レモンの風味, レモンジュース, レモン色
adj. - レモンの, レモン風味の

idioms:

• lemon curd    レモンカード
• lemon sole    レモンガレイ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) ليمون, ليمون حامض, شجرة الليمون, إخفاق شئ أو شخص فاشل (صفه) ليموني‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮לימון, צהוב חיוור, כלי רכב "דפוק", דבר או אדם חלשים או מאכזבים‬
adj. - ‮בצבע לימון‬

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