MELLOW

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does mellow mean? 

• MELLOW (adjective)
  The adjective MELLOW has 4 senses:

1. unhurried and relaxed

2. having a full and pleasing flavor through proper aging

3. softened through age or experience

4. slightly and pleasantly intoxicated from alcohol or a drug (especially marijuana)

  Familiarity information: MELLOW used as an adjective is uncommon.

• MELLOW (verb)
  The verb MELLOW has 3 senses:

1. soften, make mellow

2. become more relaxed, easygoing, or genial

3. make or grow (more) mellow

  Familiarity information: MELLOW used as a verb is uncommon.

• MELLOW (adverb)
  The adverb MELLOW has 1 sense:

1. in a mellow manner

  Familiarity information: MELLOW used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MELLOW (adjective)

Comparative: mellower   
Superlative: mellowest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Unhurried and relaxed

Synonyms:

laid-back; mellow

Context example:

a mellow conversation

Similar:

relaxed (without strain or anxiety)

Derivation:

mellowness (geniality, as through the effects of alcohol or marijuana)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Having a full and pleasing flavor through proper aging

Synonyms:

mellow; mellowed

Context example:

mellowed fruit

Similar:

mature; ripe (fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used)

Derivation:

mellowness (a taste (especially of fruit) that is ripe and of full flavor)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Softened through age or experience

Synonyms:

mellow; mellowed

Context example:

the peace of mellow age

Similar:

soft (compassionate and kind; conciliatory)

Derivation:

mellowness (a soft shade of a color)

mellowness (the property of a sensation that is rich and pleasing)

mellowness (a feeling of good humor and sympathy through maturity or intoxication or a relaxed state)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Slightly and pleasantly intoxicated from alcohol or a drug (especially marijuana)

Synonyms:

high; mellow

Similar:

drunk; gone; inebriated; intoxicated; ripped (stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol))

Derivation:

mellowness (geniality, as through the effects of alcohol or marijuana)

• MELLOW (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they mellow    ... he / she / it mellows   
Past simple: mellowed   
Past participle: mellowed   
-ing form: mellowing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Soften, make mellow

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Age and experience mellowed him over the years

Hypernyms (to "mellow" is one way to...):

soften (make soft or softer)

Cause:

mellow (make or grow (more) mellow)

Verb group:

mellow; mellow out; melt (become more relaxed, easygoing, or genial)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

mellowing (the process of becoming mellow)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become more relaxed, easygoing, or genial

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

mellow; mellow out; melt

Context example:

With age, he mellowed

Hypernyms (to "mellow" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Verb group:

mellow (soften, make mellow)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

mellowing (the process of becoming mellow)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make or grow (more) mellow

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The sun mellowed the fruit

Hypernyms (to "mellow" is one way to...):

soften (become soft or softer)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something ----s something

Derivation:

mellowing (the process of becoming mellow)

• MELLOW (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a mellow manner

Synonyms:

mellow; mellowly

 Context examples 

Beneath them on every side stretched the long sweep of peaceful country, rolling plain, and tangled wood, all softened and mellowed in the silver moonshine.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“You will permit me to compliment you, my dear Mary,” said he, in a voice which was the most mellow and beautiful that I have ever heard.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On the other side of the house an immense fire had burned itself into clear embers and shed a steady, red reverberation, contrasted strongly with the mellow paleness of the moon.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The afternoon was far advanced and the hot glare had softened into a mellow glow before we found ourselves at the police-station.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

From the valley arose the mellow song of meadow-larks, while about them, in and out, through sunshine and shadow, fluttered great yellow butterflies.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But a voice behind me, the unmistakable voice of Wolf Larsen, strong with the invincible certitude of the man and mellow with appreciation of the words he was quoting, aroused me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Upon a mellow autumn day, about noon, when the ground was perfumed by fallen leaves, and many more, in beautiful tints of yellow, red, and brown, yet hung upon the trees, through which the sun was shining, I arrived at Highgate.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It didn't much matter, for Mr. Bhaer sang like a true German, heartily and well, and Jo soon subsided into a subdued hum, that she might listen to the mellow voice that seemed to sing for her alone.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

This lake may have been ten miles in circumference, and lay very green and beautiful in the evening light, with a thick fringe of reeds at its edges, and with its surface broken by several yellow sandbanks, which gleamed golden in the mellow sunshine.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And while I sat there and looked out on the still trees and dim lawn, to a sweet air was sung in mellow tones the following strain:—He rose and came towards me, and I saw his face all kindled, and his full falcon-eye flashing, and tenderness and passion in every lineament.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)