peach

1 of 2

noun

ˈpēch 

1

a

: a low spreading freely branching Chinese tree (Prunus persica) of the rose family that has lanceolate leaves and sessile usually pink flowers and is widely cultivated in temperate areas for its edible fruit which is a single-seeded drupe with a hard central stone, a pulpy white or yellow flesh, and a thin fuzzy skin

b

: the edible fruit of the peach

2

: a moderate yellowish pink

3

: one resembling a peach (as in sweetness, beauty, or excellence)

peach

2 of 2

verb

peached; peaching; peaches

transitive verb

: to inform against : betray

intransitive verb

: to turn informer : blab

Did you know?

If you guessed that the origin of this verb peach has something to do with a slightly fuzzy fruit, you are unfortunately incorrect. The fruit peach is an unrelated word that traces back to the Latin phrase malum persicum, literally meaning "Persian fruit." The verb blossomed from Middle English apechen ("to accuse"), itself an offspring of the Anglo-French verbs apecher and empecher, both meaning "to ensnare." Empecher is also an ancestor of the English verb impeach, meaning "to bring an accusation against." Both of these English verbs can be traced back to Latin impedicare, meaning "to shackle the feet," and that word is itself rooted in ped-, pes, meaning "foot."

Synonyms of peach

Noun

• beauty
• dream
• something else
• daisy
• pippin

Examples of peach in a Sentence

Noun

fondly remembers his old Studebaker as being a peach of a car

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

It is aged for 11 months on the lees with little to no stirring and has aromas of yellow plum, peach, and citrus flowers with balanced acidity that pave the way for flavors of citrus pith, grapefruit, and green apple. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026

The apples of the cheeks should be touched with the a similar shade of bronze that may be kissing the eyelids, and layered under a fresh peach or tangerine, Schoen said. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Baugher's Orchard and Farm in Westminster said the frost wiped out 90% of its apple and peach crop in a matter of hours. — Tara Lynch, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

During a visit in August, I was charmed to find that the fresh Jersey peaches infused into the water were cut in the shape of hearts. — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English peche, from Anglo-French pesche, peche (the fruit), from Late Latin persica, from Latin (malum) persicum, literally, Persian fruit

Verb

Middle English pechen, short for apechen to accuse, from Anglo-French apecher, empecher to ensnare — more at impeach

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1560, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing peach

• green peach aphid
• lesser peach tree borer
• peach fuzz
• peach leaf curl
• peach tree borer

Rhymes for peach

• beach
• beech
• bleach
• breach
• breech
• each
• keech
• leach
• leech
• meech
• preach
• reach

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

peach

noun

ˈpēch

1

: a sweet juicy fruit with white or yellow flesh, a thin fuzzy skin, and a single seed enclosed in a rough stony covering that is produced by a low spreading Chinese tree related to the plums and cherries and grown in most temperate areas

also : this tree

2

: a moderate yellowish pink