pea

noun

ˈpē 

plural peas also pease ˈpēz 

often attributive

1

a

: a variable annual Eurasian vine (Lathyrus oleraceus) of the legume family that is cultivated especially for its rounded smooth or wrinkled edible protein-rich seeds

b

: the seed of the pea

c

peas also pease plural : the immature pods of the pea with their included seeds

2

: any of various leguminous plants related to or resembling the pea

—usually used in combination or with a qualifying term

chickpea

black-eyed pea

also : the seed of such a plant

3

: something resembling a pea (as in size or shape)

Illustration of pea

• pea 1a

Examples of pea in a Sentence

We're growing tomatoes and peas in our garden this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

The saffron rice, served with shrimp, peas and calabacita for $30, is a nod to Spanish and Sicilian traditions. —Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026

Spring Peas with Mint Butter Nearly every possible kind of pea shows up here. —Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026

For spring, asparagus, artichokes, peas, spring onions, radishes and bok choy are all in peak form, and several overlap with the Clean Fifteen. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026

Spring 2026 picks include asparagus, artichokes, peas, spring onions, radishes and bok choy — several of which appear on the Clean Fifteen. —Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from Middle English pease (taken as a plural), from Old English pise, from Latin pisa, plural of pisum, from Greek pison

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing pea

• beach pea
• black-eyed pea
• English pea
• field pea
• pea aphid
• pea bean
• pea green
• pea jacket
• pea soup
• pea-souper
• pigeon pea
• rosary pea
• snap pea
• snow pea
• split pea
• sugar pea
• sugar snap pea
• sweet pea

Rhymes for pea

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

pea

noun

ˈpē 

plural peas also pease ˈpēz 

1

a

: a plant of the legume family that is widely grown for its pods of protein-rich edible rounded seeds

b

: the seed of a pea

2

: a plant (as the sweet pea) related to the pea