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

Originally sterile, the Bradford pear began producing fertile fruit after cross-pollination with other pear cultivars. —Campbell Vaughn, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026

Pectin, a fiber found in apples and pears, forms a gel that slows gastric emptying and helps keep blood sugar levels steadier. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Apr. 2026

Scientists were searching for a new breed of pear tree resistant to a nasty fungus called fire blight, a disease that can decimate crops. —John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Apr. 2026

The worst part though, is all the suckers kept coming up from the pear roots. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026

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