honeydew

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honeydew

/ˈhʌnɪdjuː/ UK
/-dʒuː/ UK
/ˈhʌniˌd(j)u/ US

Where it comes from

The noun is derived from honey + dew, originally believed to be a form of dew that fell from the sky like rain onto plants (see sense 1).

The adjective is derived from the noun.

noun honeydews

uncountable A sweet, sticky substance deposited on leaves and other plant parts by insects (especially aphids and scale insects) feeding on plant sap, or by fungi. [T]here reſteth on the leaves of this tree a kinde of red thicke dew in the hotteſt time of Summer more then on any other tree round about it, which will be rather dry then bedewed at all, which honey dew being taken doth ſlake the thirſt wonderfully: […]
Similar: melligo
broadly, uncountable A sweet liquid substance resembling the substance mentioned in sense 1, such as honey, nectar, or manna in the Bible. [F]reſh teares / Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honie devv, / Vpon a gathred Lillie almoſt vvithered.
Similar: ambrosia
broadly, uncountable A blackish mould (often called sooty mould) produced by fungi of the order Dothideales, feeding on the substance mentioned in sense 1.
broadly, uncountable In full honeydew tobacco: a fine sort of tobacco moistened with a sweet substance (originally molasses).
abbreviation, broadly, countable, ellipsis Ellipsis of honeydew melon (“a melon from the Cucumis melo Inodorus cultivar group, with sweet, light green or white flesh and a smooth greenish-white or yellow rind”).
broadly, uncountable A light green colour, like the flesh of some honeydew melons.
broadly, countable, figuratively Something that is enjoyable or pleasant. He was held vnworthy euer after to ſucke the Hony dew of Peace, that (againſt his comming, by whom our Peace weares a triple Wreathe) would offer to play the Droane.

adjective more honeydew · most honeydew

Of a light green colour, like the flesh of some honeydew melons.

Translations

Every language

noun sweet, sticky substance deposited on leaves, etc., by insects feeding on plant sap, or by fungi

Español	ligamaza, melado, mielada, mielato, rocío de miel, rocío melifluo
한국어	감로 gamno
日本語	甘露 kanro
中文	蜜露 mìlù
Português	melada
Français	miellat
Deutsch	Honigtau, Meltau
Italiano	melata
Română	mană
Русский	медвя́ная роса́ medvjánaja rosá, падь padʹ
العربية	مغثر
עברית	טל דבש

noun sweet liquid substance resembling the substance mentioned in sense 1

العربية	مَنّ mann

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MLA

"honeydew." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/honeydew. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

honeydew. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/honeydew

Chicago

"honeydew." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/honeydew.

BibTeX

@misc{honeydew_2026,
  title = {honeydew},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/honeydew},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}