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

According to the data, which was collected between May 27 and Sept. 2, 2024, pineapple coconut, pistachio and green tea are three flavors quickly rising in popularity. —Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 19 July 2025

Eating large servings of watermelon or pineapple will have a more significant impact on your blood sugar. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 10 July 2025

The Rum Bar’s impeccable Rum Runner includes both white rum and premium dark rum, which lends extra depth of flavor to the banana and blackberry liqueurs, grenadine, and zippy orange and pineapple juices. —Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 9 July 2025

Fruity variations go from muddling a handful of strawberries to tropical takes made with mango, pineapple, and my personal favorite, passionfruit. —Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 9 July 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