pear

American  

[pair] / pɛər /

noun

1. the edible fruit, typically rounded but elongated and growing smaller toward the stem, of a tree, Pyrus communis, of the rose family.

2. the tree itself.

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pear British  

/ pɛə /

noun

1. a widely cultivated rosaceous tree, Pyrus communis, having white flowers and edible fruits

2. the sweet gritty-textured juicy fruit of this tree, which has a globular base and tapers towards the apex

3. the wood of this tree, used for making furniture

4. informal to go wrong

   the plan started to go pear-shaped

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Other Word Forms

• pearlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of pear

First recorded before 1000; Middle English pe(e)re, Old English peru, from Late Latin pira, feminine singular use of plural of Latin pirum (neuter) “pear”

Example Sentences

Coffee pecan torte, spiced pear sponge with miso caramel.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Then there’s the less technical, but equally relevant sensory experience each perfume evokes: a pear orchard in the fall or a bucket of blackberries on a hot summer day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

Its pear production ranks first in Europe and third globally, but just five modern varieties -- none of which are Italian -- account for over 80 percent of its output.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

Dessert was a refreshing Asian pear sorbet with cinnamon date punch, the perfect light end to a sensational meal.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2025

She must’ve tumbled through a prickly pear plant.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith