pineapple

[pahy-nap-uhl]

noun

1. the edible, juicy, collective fruit of a tropical, bromeliaceous plant, Ananas comosus, that develops from a spike or head of flowers and is surmounted by a crown of leaves.

2. the plant itself, having a short stem and rigid, spiny-margined, recurved leaves.

3. Military Slang.,  a fragmentation hand grenade.

pineapple

/ ˈpaɪnˌæpəl /

noun

1. a tropical American bromeliaceous plant, Ananas comosus, cultivated in the tropics for its large fleshy edible fruit

2. the fruit of this plant, consisting of an inflorescence clustered around a fleshy axis and surmounted by a tuft of leaves

3. slang,  military a hand grenade

Word History and Origins

Origin of pineapple¹

1350–1400 for earlier sense; 1655–65 pineapple for def. 1; Middle English pinappel pine cone; pine ¹, apple

Word History and Origins

Origin of pineapple¹

C14 pinappel pine cone; C17: applied to the fruit because of its appearance

Example Sentences

We gave in to my husband and allowed pineapple and jalapeños on half although we were mortified.

From Los Angeles Times

I enjoy eating pineapple until my tongue feels raw.

From Salon

Ripe pineapple and candy-sweet mangoes adorned store shelves, their aroma intoxicating.

From Salon

“You can also do different fruit juices. You can do half lemonade, half mango or pineapple. I think tropical fruits really work well with the pickles,” said Ziata.

From Salon

Outside of Paul Chan’s Silver Lake studio, the rush of L.A. turns tranquil as pineapple guava plants brush against a wall in the warm breeze.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ammunition 
• bomb 
• booby trap 
• detonator 
• dynamite 
• gunpowder 
• mine 
• missile 
• munition 
• powder