: a pome fruit of a tree (genus Pyrus, especially P. communis) of the rose family that typically has a pale green or brownish skin, a firm juicy flesh, and an oblong shape in which a broad base end tapers upward to a narrow stem end
Recent Examples on the WebCorn, spaghetti squash, cabbage, peppers and pear, apple and cherry trees grow in the soil, in garden boxes, in plastic containers. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 The whole mass rises in a tight pyramid with a standing pear at its summit, its stem stretching upward like an arm waving a pennant. John Wilmerding, WSJ, 2 Sep. 2022 For her third look, Lopez took the cake with a pair of custom made, 27-carat cluster pear shaped diamond earrings from Samer Halimeh worth a whopping $2 million. Amethyst Tate, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Gift-Worthy Dish Soaps Long known for its incredible fragrance blends, this Caldrea dish soap combines extracts of pear blossom and agave with melon and citrus. Jodhaira Rodriguez, Good Housekeeping, 16 Aug. 2022 For dessert Hughes sent out a delicately crisp meringue Pavlova with mixed berries, and a crème anglaise with pear puree and rum-raisin ice cream. John Mariani, Forbes, 6 June 2022 Another popular trend this year, this Toi et Moi ring features a pear-shaped and square sapphire for those who just can't choose between the two. Pema Bakshi, refinery29.com, 18 Aug. 2022 This includes the Bialetti Venus—a stainless steel moka pot with a more streamlined design (an old-school women’s magazine might say pear-shaped instead of hourglass) that will work with your induction burner. Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 16 Aug. 2022 Good communication is a no-brainer in any relationship, and Perks says the best approach is to start that boundary-setting conversation as early as possible — and definitely before things start to go pear-shaped.Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English pere, from Old English peru, from Vulgar Latin *pira, from Latin, plural of pirum
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of pear was before the 12th century