pear
peh-uh
Pear (noun) means a sweet fruit that is typically rounder at the bottom and narrower near the stem, grown on the pear tree (Pyrus communis). Example: “She sliced a pear into the salad.”
noun
1
A sweet fruit that is typically rounder at the bottom and narrower near the stem, grown on the pear tree (Pyrus communis).
"She sliced a pear into the salad."
2
A desaturated yellow-green color, like an unripe pear.
"The walls were painted a soft pear color."
How to use pear
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe teardrop-shaped fruit, or its soft green-yellow color.
Common mistake
"Go pear-shaped" is a British idiom meaning a plan went badly wrong — it has nothing to do with the fruit's taste.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
pear-shaped
ripe pear
pear tree
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Word forms
- Plural
- pears
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sliced a _____ into the salad.
Etymology
From Old English pere, ultimately borrowed from Vulgar Latin pira — the word likely traces back to an unknown Mediterranean language rather than an Indo-European root.
Synonyms
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pear tree
Rhymes for pear
See all rhymes for pear →Frequently asked questions
What does “pear” mean?
The word “pear” means a sweet fruit that is typically rounder at the bottom and narrower near the stem, grown on the pear tree (Pyrus communis). In plain terms, the teardrop-shaped fruit, or its soft green-yellow color.
How do you pronounce “pear”?
“Pear” is pronounced peh-uh (/pɛɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pear” in a sentence?
Here is “pear” used in a sentence: “She sliced a pear into the salad.”
What part of speech is “pear”?
“Pear” is a noun.
Where does the word “pear” come from?
The word “pear” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old English pere, ultimately borrowed from Vulgar Latin pira — the word likely traces back to an unknown Mediterranean language rather than an Indo-European root.
Is “pear” a common word?
“Pear” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “pear” have?
“Pear” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sweet fruit that is typically rounder at the bottom and narrower near the stem, grown on the pear tree (Pyrus communis).
