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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Thursday, July 10, Ground Beef Meat Loaf, baked potato, California veggies, pears, whole grain bread, milk. Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2025 The Callery pear tree is considered a significant threat to native land and wildlife. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Bananas, strawberries, apples, mangoes, pears, and kiwis are great candidates for this. Christina Manian, Health, 18 June 2025 Like apples, pears grow well with flowering plants like chamomile and nasturtiums, but they can also be grown with soil-improving plants such as comfrey or legumes that naturally enrich the soil and reduce the need for fertilizer. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pear

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pear. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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