pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌna-pəl 

1

a

: a tropical monocotyledonous plant (Ananas comosus of the family Bromeliaceae, the bromeliad family) that has rigid spiny-margined recurved leaves and a short stalk with a dense oblong head of small abortive flowers

b

: the large edible multiple fruit of the pineapple that consists of the sweet succulent fleshy inflorescence

2

: a hand grenade

Examples of pineapple in a Sentence

a can of chopped pineapple

Recent Examples on the Web

The fermentation process lasted an average of nine days, which resulted in more complex flavors, including hints of pineapple and guava. —Rachel King, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

In addition, a Spanish sailor wrote the first record of Hawaii’s state fruit — the pineapple — in 1813, almost 90 years before James Drummond Dole opened the Hawaiian Pineapple Co. —Arturo Conde, NBC News, 1 Dec. 2024

There’s also Mexican gin in the Royal Hawaiian Cocktail, with pineapple, almond, and lemon, plus Mexican whiskey in the Daydreamer, with tamarind, corn, and lemon. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2024

This nighttime serum puts in the midnight hours to tackle texture and minimize visibly large pores with a fruity combination of pineapple, papaya, and pumpkin enzymes, along with glycolic, malic, and lactic acids. —Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pineapple

• pineapple guava
• pineapple sage

Kids Definition

pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌnap-əl 

: a tropical plant with stiff spiny sword-shaped leaves and a short flowering stalk that develops into an edible fruit with usually pale yellow sweet juicy flesh and very thick skin

also : this fruit

Etymology

Middle English pinappel "the cone of a pine"; so called because the fruit looks like the cone from a pine tree

Medical Definition

pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌnap-əl 

1

: a tropical monocotyledonous plant (Ananas comosus of the family Bromeliaceae, the pineapple family) that has rigid spiny-margined recurved leaves and a short stalk with a dense oblong head of small abortive flowers

2

: the multiple fruit of the pineapple that consists of the succulent fleshy inflorescence and whose juice is the source of the proteolytic enzyme bromelain