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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

This fine example is plush and ripe, with plenty of nectarine and citrus flavors but without the aggressive grassiness of some New Zealand savvies.

From Washington Post Jul. 14, 2022

He invented white cherry white chocolate, nectarine swirl, and Heath bar brownie.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins

On the first day, Mora’s crew expected to set out 5,000 pounds of nectarines.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 3, 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

They include strawberries; spinach; kale, collard and mustard greens; grapes; peaches; pears; nectarines; apples; bell and hot peppers; cherries; blueberries and green beans.

From Salon Mar. 22, 2024

He folded his arms and told Rondell to get away from the nectarines unless he planned on buying every single one his grubby hands touched.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

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