mellow

SayMEL-oh/ˈmɛloʊ/UK/ˈmɛləʊ/

Noun pluralmellows (some meanings)

25 meanings of mellow

1
relaxedadjectivefiguratively
Of a person, happy and friendly, or calm and relaxed.
My little brother is a mellow kid who almost never gets upset.
Everyone was in a mellow mood at the summer picnic.
Similarcheerful, cheery, content, convivial, casual
Oppositeuptight, tense, irritable, edgy
Note
2
warm toneadjectivefiguratively
Of a color, sound, or style, soft and rich, not loud, rough, or harsh.
We painted the bedroom walls a mellow gold.
Her mellow voice made the story easy to listen to.
Similarwarm, rich, soft, smooth, subdued
Oppositeharsh, shrill, strident, garish
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3
adjectivefiguratively
Of food or drink, aged until it tastes smooth, not sour or sharp.
This old cheese has a mellow, nutty taste.
After a year in the barrel, the cider tasted smooth and mellow.
Similarsmooth, mild, rounded, mature, soft
Oppositeharsh, sharp, acidic
4
older and calmeradjectivefiguratively
Of a person, calm, gentle, and careful because of age or experience.
In his mellow old age, Grandpa hardly ever raised his voice.
She is much mellower now than she was at twenty.
Similarcalm, composed, level-headed, even-tempered, placid
Oppositefiery, impulsive, volatile
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5
verbfigurativelyintransitive
To become softer, gentler, and less harsh than before.
Grandpa used to yell a lot, but he has mellowed with age.
Late in the day, the hot sunlight starts to mellow.
Similarsoften, moderate
Oppositeharden, intensify
6
verbcolloquialfigurativelyUSintransitive
To relax, or to feel pleasantly high from drugs. People usually say mellow out.
After a long week, I just want to mellow out at home.
He finally mellowed out when we got to the beach.
Similarrelax, chill, unwind, calm
Oppositestress, tense
7
verbintransitive
Of food or drink, to grow older and become smoother and less sharp in taste.
The wine will mellow if you keep it for a few years.
The pickles mellowed after a month in the jar.
Similarmature, soften, develop, age
8
verbfigurativelytransitive
To make someone calmer, gentler, and more understanding, often because of age or life experience.
Being a grandmother has mellowed her a lot.
Hard times can mellow even the angriest person.
Similarsoften, calm, mature
Oppositeharden, embitter
9
softenverbfigurativelytransitive
To make something softer and less harsh or rough.
Soft lamps mellow the bright light in the room.
The sun had mellowed the bright red paint on the old barn.
Similarsoften, temper, muffle, dampen, moderate
Oppositesharpen, intensify
10
peace of mindnouncolloquialUSuncountable
A calm, comfortable, relaxed mood.
Nothing could ruin her mellow on the first day of summer.
Please don't harsh my mellow with bad news right now.
Similarbuzz, calm
Note

11
ripe (fruit)adjectivefiguratively
Of fruit, soft inside because it is ripe.
These pears are mellow and ready to eat.
We picked the mellow peaches from the lowest branches.
Similarsoft, tender, yielding
Oppositeunripe, hard
Note
12
slightly drunkadjectivefiguratively
Drunk, usually just a little, in a way that makes you happy and friendly.
After two glasses of wine, Dad got a little mellow and started telling jokes.
The guests were mellow after the champagne toasts at the wedding.
Similartipsy, merry, buzzed
Oppositesober
13
high (drugs)adjectiveslangfigurativelyUS
Feeling calm and pleasantly high after taking drugs, or of a drug, mild and relaxing.
Everyone at the party seemed mellow after the joint went around.
He said the weed was mellow and would just help him relax.
Similarhigh, stoned, baked
Oppositesober, straight
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14
verbcolloquialfigurativelyUSreflexivetransitive
To make someone or yourself relax, or feel pleasantly high from drugs. People say mellow out.
A warm bath always mellows me out after a hard day.
A long, quiet drive home can mellow even the most excited kids out.
Similarrelax, calm, chill, settle
Oppositestress, agitate
Note
15
smooth out (taste)verbtransitive
To make food or drink, like cheese or wine, smoother and less sharp by letting it age.
Months in a cool cave mellow the cheese.
Fresh coffee beans taste harsh, so the shop lets them rest for a few days to mellow them.
Similarsoften, smooth, temper, mature
16
warm and fertileadjectiveliterary
Of a place or weather, warm and good for growing fruit and crops.
Grapes and figs grow well in this mellow valley.
The mellow weather of late summer filled the trees with fruit.
Similarwarm, balmy, mild, fruitful
Oppositeharsh, bleak, cold
Note
17
ripe (crops)adjectiveliterary
Of plants, leaves, or seeds, fully grown, or of crops, ripe and ready to harvest.
The farmer waited until the wheat was mellow before cutting it.
The sunflower heads hung heavy with mellow seeds.
Similarripe, mature
Oppositeunripe, green, immature
Note
18
verbfigurativelytransitive
To make someone a little drunk in a pleasant way.
By the end of dinner, Uncle Joe was well mellowed by the wine.
Two strong beers were enough to mellow him, and he began to sing.
Similarlubricate, relax
Oppositesober
Note
19
soft (soil)adjective
Of soil, soft, loose, and easy to dig.
The carrots grew long and straight in the mellow soil.
After the rain, the garden soil was mellow and easy to work.
Similaryielding
Oppositehard, heavy
20
nouncolloquialUS
The quality of being mellow, like a soft sound or a smooth taste.
This tea has a nice mellow to it.
There is a warm mellow in his voice now.
Similarwarmth, softness, smoothness, richness
Oppositeharshness, sharpness
Note
21
ripen fruitverbtransitive
To make fruit soft and tender by letting it ripen.
A few warm days will mellow the pears on the tree.
Shop peaches are often picked too early, so I put them in a bowl with a banana to mellow them.
Similarripen, soften
22
greatadjectiveslang
Very good, great, or really pleasing.
That dunk was mellow! Everybody in the gym jumped up and yelled.
He got a mellow new bike with shiny gold wheels, and every kid on the street wants a ride.
Similarcool, great, awesome, excellent
Oppositelame, awful
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23
close friendnouncolloquialUScountable
A very close friend, or a boyfriend or girlfriend. People also say main mellow.
He has been my mellow since we were kids.
She brought her main mellow to the party.
Similarsqueeze, sweetheart, partner, buddy
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24
loosen (soil)verbdialectalBritishtransitive
To make soil soft and ready for planting.
Turn the heavy clay over before winter so the frost can mellow it.
A season of rain and frost mellowed the hard ground.
Similarsoften, loosen
Note
25
verbdialectalBritishintransitive
Of soil, to become soft and ready for planting.
Leave the heavy soil alone, and it will mellow over the winter.
The clay field mellowed after weeks of frost and rain.
Similarsoften, loosen
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the Middle English word melowe, meaning “ripe, juicy, sweet.” Its older origin is not certain: it may come from a word for flour, or from an old word meaning “soft, tender.”