pea

¹

[ pee ]

noun

, plural peas, (Archaic or British Dialect) pease or peas·en [pee, -z, uh, n].

1. the round, edible seed of a widely cultivated plant, Pisum sativum, of the legume family.
2. the plant itself.
3. the green, somewhat inflated pod of this plant.
4. any of various related or similar plants or their seed, as the chickpea.
5. something resembling a pea, especially in being small and round.

adjective

1. pertaining to, growing, containing, or cooked with peas:

   We cultivated some tomato vines and a pea patch.

2. small or small and round (usually used in combination).
3. pea coal.

pea

²

[ pee ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. bill ³( def 4 ).

pea

/ piː /

noun

1. an annual climbing leguminous plant, Pisum sativum, with small white flowers and long green pods containing edible green seeds: cultivated in temperate regions
2. 1. the seed of this plant, eaten as a vegetable
   2. ( as modifier )

      pea soup

3. any of several other leguminous plants, such as the sweet pea, chickpea, and cowpea

Derived Forms

• ˈpeaˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• pealike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pea¹

First recorded in 1660–70; back formation from pease, taken as plural

Origin of pea²

First recorded in 1825–35; perhaps short for peak ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pea¹

C17: from pease (incorrectly assumed to be a plural)

Idioms and Phrases

see like as two peas in a pod .

Example Sentences

These days they are occasional meteorological irruptions, white river mists, not dense and toxic industrial pea-soupers.

From The Daily Beast

When we meet, Yeonmi is impeccably dressed in a red pea coat and heels, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail.

From The Daily Beast

“This poor guy has a pea coat on,” he says, pointing to a well-dressed youngster in the front row.

From The Daily Beast

“Pea Tear Griffon” is singing what goes up must come down while reading Nathaniel Hawthorne.

From The Daily Beast

A couple weeks ago, I found a pea-sized shard of shrapnel from a past attack in a parking lot.

From The Daily Beast

With this company he had rendered valiant service in the campaign which ended with the battle of Pea Ridge.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a Confederate soldier who was cruelly wounded at Pea Ridge, and found his way here.

From Project Gutenberg

Most of this work I did alone, leaving Mike free for other tasks, and Joe free to cut the pea brush.

From Project Gutenberg

I have never seen a pea-green monkey before, and it strikes me you are quite gorgeous.

From Project Gutenberg

Not all at once did the pea-sticks become builders' scaffold-poles, the lines of string the plotting-out of streets.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cloak
• frock
• jacket
• overcoat
• raincoat
• suit
• tuxedo
• windbreaker
• wrap