pineapple
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for pineapple, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A large tropical fruit with spiky skin, sweet yellow flesh, and a crown of stiff leaves.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use pineapple
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
Originally meant "pine cone" in Middle English (pine + apple, "apple" once meaning any fruit); the name was transferred to the tropical fruit because of its resemblance to a large pine cone.
Full origin of pineapple →Frequently asked questions
What does “pineapple” mean?
The word “pineapple” means a large tropical fruit with spiky skin, sweet yellow flesh, and a crown of stiff leaves. In plain terms, the spiky yellow tropical fruit — or, in slang, a grenade shaped like it.
How do you pronounce “pineapple”?
“Pineapple” is pronounced PYN-a-puhl (/ˈpaɪnəpəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “pineapple” in a sentence?
Here is “pineapple” used in a sentence: “She sliced a fresh pineapple for the fruit salad.”
What is another word for “pineapple”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pineapple” include pine, ananas and pineapple plant.
What part of speech is “pineapple”?
“Pineapple” is a noun.
Where does the word “pineapple” come from?
The word “pineapple” comes from Middle English. Originally meant "pine cone" in Middle English (pine + apple, "apple" once meaning any fruit); the name was transferred to the tropical fruit because of its resemblance to a large pine cone.
Is “pineapple” a common word?
“Pineapple” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pineapple” have?
“Pineapple” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large tropical fruit with spiky skin, sweet yellow flesh, and a crown of stiff leaves.
Why is "pineapple" also slang for a hand grenade?
"Pineapple" is used as slang for a hand grenade because of its ridged, oval shape, which resembles the spiky, segmented skin of the fruit. This nickname is informal and mostly found in military slang or fiction rather than everyday speech.
Does "pineapple" ever refer to more than the fruit?
Yes, beyond naming the tropical fruit with spiky skin and sweet yellow flesh, "pineapple" is also informal slang for a hand grenade due to its similar ridged shape. Context makes clear which meaning is intended.
Is "ananas" another word for "pineapple"?
Yes, "ananas" is a synonym for "pineapple" used in many other languages and occasionally in English, referring to the same large tropical fruit with a crown of stiff leaves. It is less common than "pineapple" in everyday English usage.