pear-shaped
Americanadjective
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having the shape of a pear; tapering near the top and bulging toward the base or bottom.
a pear-shaped vase.
-
(of a vocal tone) clear, resonant, and without harshness; full-bodied.
Etymology
Origin of pear-shaped
First recorded in 1750–60
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.
Who gets paid first if things go pear-shaped?
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026
The Scottish FA will come under heavy fire for committing to another four years of Clarke if things go pear-shaped in America.
From BBC ● May 28, 2026
Westinghouse built the silver, pear-shaped device in 1937 and it became known as the “world’s first industrial atom smasher.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2025
For instance, the green, pear-shaped squash called güisquil — also known as chayote — is native to Mesoamerica and commonly boiled and used in soups or stews.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2024
Security’s pear-shaped plush body and six of his black legs were hanging down Marshall’s back.
From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
