pear

noun

ˈper 

1

: a pome fruit of a tree (genus Pyrus, especially P. communis) of the rose family that typically has a pale green or brownish skin, a firm juicy flesh, and an oblong shape in which a broad base end tapers upward to a narrow stem end

2

: a tree bearing pears

Examples of pear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Whole foods rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber include oats, prunes, kiwis, legumes, leafy vegetables, pears and whole grains. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025

Apples, pears, and other fruit trees will produce fruit once they’re established. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025

This recipe is here to prove that pears can be just as delicious in a pie filling. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025

The 2025 growing season’s weather was ideal, allowing for beautifully balanced sweetness and flavor across not just the eponymous apples, but everything from peaches to pears grown at the Apple Hill Growers Association’s more than 40 farms and ranches. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pere, from Old English peru, from Vulgar Latin *pira, from Latin, plural of pirum

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing pear

• alligator pear
• Anjou pear
• Asian pear
• avocado pear
• Bradford callery pear
• Bradford pear
• callery pear
• d'Anjou pear
• go pear-shaped
• pear psylla
• pear-shaped
• prickly pear
• prickly pear cactus
• prickly pear fruit
• vegetable pear

Rhymes for pear

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

pear

noun

ˈpa(ə)r 

ˈpe(ə)r

: a fruit that is commonly larger at the end opposite the stem and typically has a pale green or brownish skin and juicy flesh

also : a tree that bears pears and is related to the apple