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 White Lotus the set design team redecorated the suite with thematic palm and pineapple prints, which would soon become an iconic design feature distinct to the show. —Bianca Salonga, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

These include salmon, tofu, turkey, pineapple, oats, eggs, and cheese. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2025

Notable examples include buckeyes in Ohio, a nod to the state's beloved chocolate-and-peanut-butter confection, and pineapple upside-down cake in West Virginia, reflecting local preferences that diverge from national trends. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025

Finger foods and mayo-laden dishes are the goal, paying extra attention to garnishing with the hallmarks of 1970s food presentation such as beds of curly kale, maraschino cherries, and pineapple rings. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pineapple

• pineapple guava
• pineapple sage

Rhymes for pineapple

• appal
• apple
• chapel
• dapple
• grapple

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