pear

noun

ˈper 

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 pears, cranberries, apple cider, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon juice (and a touch of salt for balance) all cook together, low and slow for several hours. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025

Bake 45 minutes to one hour or until crust is evenly browned and pears are tender. —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Dec. 2025

Some of my favorites include the homemade bread service, the Karoo lamb and local beef medallions, and a decadent Madagascan vanilla bean poached pear. —Travis Levius, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025

Sapodilla’s flavor resembles that of brown sugar combined with pear and cinnamon. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing pear

• alligator pear
• Anjou pear
• Asian pear
• avocado pear
• Bradford callery pear
• Bradford pear
• callery pear
• d'Anjou pear
• go pear-shaped
• pear psylla
• pear-shaped
• prickly pear
• prickly pear cactus
• prickly pear fruit
• vegetable pear

Rhymes for pear

• air
• ayre
• bahr
• bare
• blare
• care
• chair
• claire
• ere
• err
• eyre
• fair

Kids Definition

pear

noun

ˈpa(ə)r 

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