pea

play

noun, often attributive \ ˈpē \

Definition of pea

plural peas also pease play \ˈpēz\

1 a :a variable annual Eurasian vine (Pisum sativum) 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)

See pea defined for English-language learners

See pea defined for kids

Examples of pea in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of pea from the Web

Unfortunately, peas aren’t for everyone, which means that a lot of people miss out on how great split pea soup actually is.

— spoon u, Teen Vogue, "Foods That Look Gross But Taste Really Good," 25 Aug. 2017
Cocoa nibs add the perfect crunch to pillowy rabbit meatballs with English peas.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
Or this rugged fold of rice-flour crepe called banh xeo, golden with turmeric and plumped by coconut milk, shattering to reveal asparagus tips and sweet pea purée, fresh and bright.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "A Rare Manhattan Find: Great Vietnamese Food, Times Two," 13 July 2017
Instead, as dermatologist Melissa Levin explained to me, take a pea-size amount, or the length of your fingertip to the first line in your middle finger, and dab the gel equally throughout your face.

— ashley weatherford, The Cut, "I Can’t Believe I Ever Stopped Using This Magical Acne Cream," 10 July 2017
In South Korea, Spam is considered a popular holiday gift, while in the U.K., the Spam fritter is served with chips and mushy peas in burger bars.

— ayalla a. ruvio, Smithsonian, "How Spam Went from Canned Necessity to American Icon," 6 July 2017
They're surrounded by equally flourishing spinach, zucchini and pea plants all developed through hours of careful work — which could seem cumbersome to new gardeners, but not to Holmes.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Can food help reconnect a racially divided Louisville?," 27 June 2017
Think crunchy snap peas in summer and rich bean stew in winter, along with spices, nuts, and a healthy glug of olive oil.

— meryl rothstein, Bon Appetit, "How to Master the Hummus Swoosh," 26 June 2017
Served in a rich and creamy sauce infused with mushrooms and parmesan, the gnocchi were tender and complemented by the pop of fresh English peas and delicate asparagus.

— lindsey mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "Wiltshire At The Speed should not be missed | Review," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pea.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of pea

Origin and Etymology of pea

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

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First Known Use: 1666

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PEA Defined for English Language Learners

pea

play

noun

Definition of pea for English Language Learners

: a small, round, green seed that is eaten as a vegetable and that is formed in a seed case (called a pod) of a climbing plant; also : a plant that produces peas

PEA Defined for Kids

pea

play

noun \ ˈpē \

Definition of pea for Students

plural peas \ˈpēz\

1 :a round green seed that is eaten as a vegetable and comes from the pods of a climbing garden plant

2 :a plant (as the sweet pea) resembling or related to the garden plant that produces peas

Learn More about pea

See words that rhyme with pea Spanish Central: Translation of pea Nglish: Translation of pea for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pea for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pea

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