pineapple
PYN-a-puhl
Pineapple (noun) means a large tropical fruit with spiky skin, sweet yellow flesh, and a crown of stiff leaves. Example: “She sliced a fresh pineapple for the fruit salad.”
noun
1
A large tropical fruit with spiky skin, sweet yellow flesh, and a crown of stiff leaves.
"She sliced a fresh pineapple for the fruit salad."
"The cocktail was garnished with a wedge of pineapple."
2
Slang for a hand grenade, because of its ridged, oval shape.
"The soldier pulled the pin on the pineapple and threw it."
How to use pineapple
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe spiky yellow tropical fruit — or, in slang, a grenade shaped like it.
Common mistake
A pineapple is not related botanically to pine trees at all — the name is purely about shape.
Common pairings
pineapple juice
pineapple upside-down cake
fresh pineapple
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Word forms
- Plural
- pineapples
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She sliced a fresh _____ for the fruit salad.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for pineapple
See all rhymes for 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.
