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

Poblano peppers are charred and peeled, then stuffed with picadillo, a mix of ground beef, spices, nuts and seasonal fruits such as pears and apples. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

And apples aren't the only fruit on offer—prepare to pick out pears for your next holiday dinner, or a pumpkin brimming with the potential to become a fearsome jack-o'-lantern. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Sep. 2026

Sher retired to a pear orchard in the Sierra Nevada foothills and served at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Sierra Nevada Conservancy. — Dan Morain, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

These include spirits made using pear wine from Fabbioli Cellars in Leesburg and apple cider from Blue Bee Cider in Richmond, along with Short Hill Mountain Peach Brandy, which features peaches from Loudoun County. — Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 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