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nectarine

American  
[nek-tuh-reen, nek-tuh-reen] / ˌnɛk təˈrin, ˈnɛk təˌrin /

noun

  • nectarines
    plural
  1. a variety or mutation of peach having a smooth, downless skin.


nectarine British  
/ ˈnɛktərɪn /

noun

  1. a variety of peach tree, Prunus persica nectarina

  2. the fruit of this tree, which has a smooth skin

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of nectarine

First recorded in 1610–20; nectar + -ine 1


Vocabulary lists containing nectarine

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Bottle bio: From California’s Central Valley, the wine opens with aromas of white nectarine, green guava, and mineral.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

So he planted apple trees, nectarine trees, grape vineyards and a vegetable garden, turning the once-empty lot into an oasis.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2024

It's the route to his apple and nectarine orchards.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2023

Flavors of nectarine and apricot lend opulence and texture, while a smoky mineral note adds structure and balance.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 21, 2022

It was the sweetest nectarine she had ever tasted.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

The Monalise nectarines affected by the legal dispute make up about 15% of the farm, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

Compared to last year’s list, nectarines bested both peaches and cherries in pesticide contamination, increasing their ranking from seventh place to fifth.

From Salon ● Mar. 26, 2026

Michael Thurlow, whose family grows peaches, nectarines and plums in California’s San Joaquin Valley, has been a longtime supplier of D’Fresh.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

She added: "We're even growing peaches, apricots, and nectarines outside currently, something that would have been unthinkable in previous years due to the risk of late frosts and lack of early pollinators."

From BBC ● May 1, 2025

Peaches and nectarines dusted with a careful hand.

From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez

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