pea

noun

ˈpē 

plural peas also pease ˈpēz 

often attributive

1

a

: a variable annual Eurasian vine (Lathyrus oleraceus) of the legume family that is cultivated especially for its rounded smooth or wrinkled edible protein-rich seeds

b

: the seed of the pea

c

peas also pease plural : the immature pods of the pea with their included seeds

2

: any of various leguminous plants related to or resembling the pea

—usually used in combination or with a qualifying term

chickpea

black-eyed pea

also : the seed of such a plant

3

: something resembling a pea (as in size or shape)

Illustration of pea

• pea 1a

Examples of pea in a Sentence

We're growing tomatoes and peas in our garden this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

The nuggets' clean ingredients list also includes wheat flour, rice starch, pea protein, water, salt, rice flour, spices and garlic powder. —Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 9 Feb. 2026

This underrated food is often mistaken for a vegetable, but peas are actually a member of the legume family. —Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026

Sweet alyssum, allium, cilantro, nasturtium, beans, peas, and marigolds all help protect your crop from common potato pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, and cutworms. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026

This can be done with many kinds of plants including beans, peas, cucumbers, summer squash, zucchini, and miniature melons. —Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from Middle English pease (taken as a plural), from Old English pise, from Latin pisa, plural of pisum, from Greek pison

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing pea

• beach pea
• black-eyed pea
• English pea
• field pea
• pea aphid
• pea bean
• pea green
• pea jacket
• pea soup
• pea-souper
• pigeon pea
• rosary pea
• snap pea
• snow pea
• split pea
• sugar pea
• sugar snap pea
• sweet pea

Rhymes for pea

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

pea

noun

ˈpē 

plural peas also pease ˈpēz 

1

a

: a plant of the legume family that is widely grown for its pods of protein-rich edible rounded seeds

b

: the seed of a pea

2

: a plant (as the sweet pea) related to the pea