pear

[ pair ]

noun

1. the edible fruit, typically rounded but elongated and growing smaller toward the stem, of a tree, Pyrus communis, of the rose family.
2. the tree itself.

pear

/ pɛə /

noun

1. a widely cultivated rosaceous tree, Pyrus communis, having white flowers and edible fruits
2. the sweet gritty-textured juicy fruit of this tree, which has a globular base and tapers towards the apex
3. the wood of this tree, used for making furniture
4. go pear-shaped informal.
   to go wrong

   the plan started to go pear-shaped

Other Words From

• pearlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pear¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English pe(e)re, Old English peru, from Late Latin pira, feminine singular use of plural of Latin pirum (neuter) “pear”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pear¹

Old English pere, ultimately from Latin pirum

Example Sentences

Pi00a isn’t a restaurant but pops up all over Los Angeles and beyond, baking puffy-edged, char-crusted pizza pies with toppings such as miso eggplant; soppressata with chili crunch; Hainan chicken; and Asian pear with pancetta.

From Los Angeles Times

Callum Ulysses Parslow, 32, stabbed 25-year-old Nahom Hagos in the chest and hand at the Pear Tree Inn at Hindlip in Worcestershire, Leicester Crown Court was told.

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

A green pouch advertised as broccoli-pear might turn out to be little more than pear puree.

From Los Angeles Times

The route: Hike to Batiquitos Lagoon, then to Moonlight State Beach, where you’ll be bathed in the scent of the flowers cascading down the steep escarpment above, including lantana, purple sea foam and prickly pear cactus blossoms.

From Los Angeles Times