pineapple

pine·ap·ple

noun \ˈpī-ˌna-pəl\

Definition of PINEAPPLE

1

a : 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

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

2

: a hand grenade

Examples of PINEAPPLE

1. a can of chopped pineapple

First Known Use of PINEAPPLE

1588

Rhymes with PINEAPPLE

crab apple, love apple, mayapple, oak apple, star apple, thorn apple

pine·ap·ple

noun \ˈpī-ˌnap-əl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PINEAPPLE

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

pineapple

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Pineapple (Ananas comosus)—Courtesy of Dole Company

Fruit-bearing plant (Ananas comosus) of the family Bromeliaceae, native to the New World tropics and subtropics but introduced elsewhere. Pineapple is served fresh where available and in canned form worldwide. It is a key ingredient in Polynesian cuisine. Like agave and some yuccas, the plant has a rosette of 30–40 stiff, succulent leaves on a thick, fleshy stem. A determinate inflorescence forms 15–20 months after planting. After fertilization, the many lavender flowers fuse and become fleshy to form the 2–4 lb (1–2 kg) fruit. Ripening takes 5–6 months.