pea

¹

[ pee ]

noun

, plural peas, (Archaic or British Dialect) pease or peas·en [pee, -z, uh, n].

1. the round, edible seed of a widely cultivated plant, Pisum sativum, of the legume family.
2. the plant itself.
3. the green, somewhat inflated pod of this plant.
4. any of various related or similar plants or their seed, as the chickpea.
5. something resembling a pea, especially in being small and round.

adjective

1. pertaining to, growing, containing, or cooked with peas:

   We cultivated some tomato vines and a pea patch.

2. small or small and round (usually used in combination).
3. pea coal.

pea

²

[ pee ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. bill ³( def 4 ).

pea

/ piː /

noun

1. an annual climbing leguminous plant, Pisum sativum, with small white flowers and long green pods containing edible green seeds: cultivated in temperate regions
2. 1. the seed of this plant, eaten as a vegetable
   2. ( as modifier )

      pea soup

3. any of several other leguminous plants, such as the sweet pea, chickpea, and cowpea

Derived Forms

• ˈpeaˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• pealike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pea¹

First recorded in 1660–70; back formation from pease, taken as plural

Origin of pea²

First recorded in 1825–35; perhaps short for peak ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pea¹

C17: from pease (incorrectly assumed to be a plural)

Idioms and Phrases

see like as two peas in a pod .

Example Sentences

Everyone in her group was laden with two or three cone-shaped bundles — a couple dozen each of ranunculus, sweet peas, lisianthus, Queen Anne’s lace, spray roses and large roses in ivory and white.

From Los Angeles Times

I pass through fragrant California sagebrush and wild fennel in one spot, a blend of sweet pea, lilac and kicked-up dirt in another.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the New Year’s day activities in my family is the Southern custom of eating black-eyed peas to ensure good luck.

From Los Angeles Times

He will know plenty before him have arrived for a gun battle armed only with pea shooters.

From BBC

Whereas many jarred foods contain a single ingredient like pureed peas or carrots, pouches are more often a blend that features a sweet fruit such as apple or pear as the primary ingredient.

From Los Angeles Times

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