pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌna-pəl 

1

a

: a tropical monocotyledonous plant (Ananas comosus of the family Bromeliaceae, the bromeliad family) that has rigid spiny-margined recurved leaves and a short stalk with a dense oblong head of small abortive flowers

b

: the large edible multiple fruit of the pineapple that consists of the sweet succulent fleshy inflorescence

2

: a hand grenade

Examples of pineapple in a Sentence

a can of chopped pineapple

Recent Examples on the Web

Residents of Riverdale, New York, can receive fresh, free produce — including pineapples, peppers, cucumbers, and other essentials — every other Friday through the grassroots organization KRVC. —Ronny Maye, Essence, 31 Oct. 2025

Domaine Serene 2022 Evenstad Reserve Chard has aromas of lemon zest, pineapple, and Gala apple. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2025

Lemme Purr Probiotic Lollipops, launched on October 27 by Lemme, the reality star's vitamin and supplement brand, feature a bright-yellow sweet containing a specific strain of probiotic bacteria, along with vitamin C and real pineapple. —Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025

My fellow baddies who brunch will love the effervescent Bellini Spritz, made with all-natural peach, guava, passion fruit and strawberry, or the Tropical Mai Tai, made with fresh pineapple, Key lime, and amaretto. —Chala June, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pineapple

• pineapple guava
• pineapple sage

Rhymes for pineapple

• appal
• apple
• chapel
• dapple
• grapple

Kids Definition

pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌnap-əl 

: a tropical plant with stiff spiny sword-shaped leaves and a short flowering stalk that develops into an edible fruit with usually pale yellow sweet juicy flesh and very thick skin

also : this fruit

Etymology

Middle English pinappel "the cone of a pine"; so called because the fruit looks like the cone from a pine tree

Medical Definition

pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌnap-əl 

1

: a tropical monocotyledonous plant (Ananas comosus of the family Bromeliaceae, the pineapple family) that has rigid spiny-margined recurved leaves and a short stalk with a dense oblong head of small abortive flowers

2

: the multiple fruit of the pineapple that consists of the succulent fleshy inflorescence and whose juice is the source of the proteolytic enzyme bromelain