Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

pear midge

noun

Definition of pear midge 

: a minute gall midge (Contarinia pyrivora) which lays its eggs in the flower buds of the pear and whose larvae destroy the developing fruits

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Learn More about pear midge

Share pear midge

Resources for pear midge

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near pear midge

pearly gate

pearly nautilus

pearly whites

pear midge

pear molding

pearmonger

pear oil

Statistics for pear midge

Look-up Popularity

Comments on pear midge

What made you want to look up pear midge? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

panoply

a magnificent or impressive array

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

  • alt-573b465788319
  • Name these cookies!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Bee Cubed

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games