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

Aged four years on the lees, this one oozes notes of pie crust, honey, ripe pear and citrus zest. —Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024

And don’t just think of these as dessert wines; while foie gras and blue cheese are always a good idea alongside wine with high residual sugar, savory dishes made with apples, pears, or winter squash also work well. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2024

Once fully chilled, add in the orange juice, pomegranate juice, pomegranate seeds, orange slices, apple slices, and pear slices and stir to combine. —The View, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024

The celebrity chef's version is packed with leeks, apples and pears, and has notes of sage and a base of buttery brioche bread. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

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

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