1
: the bark of a tree
2
: a usually hard or tough outer layer : peel, crust

Examples of rind in a Sentence

the rind of a watermelon the rind of a cheese
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When cool enough to handle, scoop pulp from rind into a food processor or blender. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026 Participants are each given half a watermelon to eat in a specified time period, and they must be consumed down to the rind. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Citruses, like bergamot and orange rind, give vanilla a bright and airy lightness, whereas aromatic notes, like lavender and geranium, smell like a garden growing around vanilla orchid vines. Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026 Cut Watermelon Once the watermelon rind is cut, things change. Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rind

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German rinda bark, and probably to Old English rendan to rend

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rind was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rind. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

: the bark of a tree
also : a usually hard or tough outer layer (as the skin of a fruit)
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