pear

noun

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 The difference with French is that the Dublin Murder Squad novels bend and train themselves around each detective’s quirks—Cassie’s hungry confusion, Rob’s baggy vulnerability, Mackey’s slick bravado—like a pear tree espaliered against a sturdy garden wall. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 Always water for the same number of minutes, but gradually water more often into spring, and then summer. Apply organic fruit tree fertilizer to stone fruit, apple and pear trees. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2024 How to control Callery pear trees Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources recommends cutting larger trees down to a stump, then treating the stump with an herbicide. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Feb. 2024 After the tour, don’t miss spending time in their shop with many products handmade by the nuns, including beeswax ointment with olive oil, pear and fig marmalades, and lemon or orange liqueurs. Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Don’t expect exotic fruit flavors here, beyond a lovely hint of pear and apricot; the main impression is mineral — as if the wine were bearing a message from the Earth itself. Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024 Peaches, pears, apricots, quinces, strawberries, and apples are members of the rose family. Deb Wiley, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024 The basket contains two Royal Riviera pears, Moose Crunch milk chocolate popcorn and caramel popcorn, mini malt ball eggs, a milk chocolate bunny, milk chocolate malt balls, and chocolate truffles with various flavors such as raspberry, dark cherry, white coffee, and more. Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2024 This area was known then as the 'Valley of Heart's Delight' for its hundreds of cherry, apricot, pear, and peach orchards. Tim Bajarin, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pear was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near pear

Cite this Entry

“Pear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pear. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pear

noun
ˈpa(ə)r How to pronounce pear (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on pear

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