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

Apples, bananas, blueberries, kiwis and pineapples are some fruits suitable for a cat to eat, according to PetMD. —Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

In the Staten Island section, the Alice Austen (Rey Campero mezcal, orange, pineapple, lime, tiki bitters with toasted coconut) honors the turn-of-the-century documentary photographer whose name graces the Staten Island Ferry and whose home is now a public museum. —Paul Rubio, AFAR Media, 23 June 2025

Pineapple 86% water, 5 oz of water per cup of pineapple chunks33 Pineapple supports digestive health and provides anti-inflammatory antioxidants.3435 Vitamin C is one of pineapple’s standout nutrients, with nearly 80 mg per cup—more than 85% of the DV. —Cynthia Sass, Health, 23 June 2025

In 2023, with the hope of bringing the beloved pineapple dessert to more fans, Dole Whip launched a freezer-aisle version that, admittedly, fell a bit flat. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 21 June 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