pear

noun

ˈper How to pronounce pear (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Roast 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once, till cauliflower and corn are tender and edges are browned, pear is soft. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Scatter edible pears, a few brown leaves, and mini gourds down your dining table to create a rustic centerpiece. — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2026 Quinta de la Rosa Extra Dry White Port Perfumed with a note of pear, this offering is a great lower-alcohol substitute for gin or vodka in most cocktails but equally quaffable when splashed with tonic or seltzer. — Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026 On a 2-acre property in Mississippi, 52-year-old Krystal Polk's family lived off the land for generations, raising chickens and pigs, growing onions and herbs and trading their peaches for pears. — Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pear

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pear was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing pear

Rhymes for pear

See All Rhymes for pear

Browse Nearby Words

peapod
pear
pear bark beetle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pear. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

pear

noun
ˈpa(ə)r How to pronounce pear (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on pear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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