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

Thursday, March 12, Chicken Pot Pie, mashed potatoes, carrots, whole grain roll, pears, milk. —Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026

Apples tend to be crisp with a tangy-sweet flavor, while pears are softer, with a grainier texture and a more mellow sweetness. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 26 Feb. 2026

Crist recommends apple, pear, peach, and hazelnut as suitable overstory trees. —Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026

The narrow corer comes in handy for smaller peppers like jalapeños as well as fruits like apples and pears. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026

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