pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌna-pəl 

1

a

: a tropical monocotyledonous plant (Ananas comosus of the family Bromeliaceae, the bromeliad family) that has rigid spiny-margined recurved leaves and a short stalk with a dense oblong head of small abortive flowers

b

: the large edible multiple fruit of the pineapple that consists of the sweet succulent fleshy inflorescence

2

: a hand grenade

Examples of pineapple in a Sentence

a can of chopped pineapple

Recent Examples on the Web

The decor features plenty of natural materials like cane and rattan, greenery, and motifs like palm trees, pineapples, and flowers. —Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2025

Chipotle’s Chicken al Pastor is made with fresh, hot off-the-grill chicken, a rich marinade of seared morita peppers and ground achiote, balanced with a splash of pineapple. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025

The Big Cheese Hawaiian specialty pizza: sweet duck sauce, topped with mozzarella, pineapple, canadian bacon, and coconut shavings. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2025

At this elegant Japanese bar, menu hits include the Maia, which highlights the acidic and creamy hybrid of pineapple foam, a frothy barrier to cushion against the potent punch of yuzu and peppery basil. —Joey Skladany, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pineapple

• pineapple guava
• pineapple sage

Rhymes for pineapple

• appal
• apple
• chapel
• dapple
• grapple

Kids Definition

pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌnap-əl 

: a tropical plant with stiff spiny sword-shaped leaves and a short flowering stalk that develops into an edible fruit with usually pale yellow sweet juicy flesh and very thick skin

also : this fruit

Etymology

Middle English pinappel "the cone of a pine"; so called because the fruit looks like the cone from a pine tree

Medical Definition

pineapple

noun

pine·​ap·​ple ˈpī-ˌnap-əl 

1

: a tropical monocotyledonous plant (Ananas comosus of the family Bromeliaceae, the pineapple family) that has rigid spiny-margined recurved leaves and a short stalk with a dense oblong head of small abortive flowers

2

: the multiple fruit of the pineapple that consists of the succulent fleshy inflorescence and whose juice is the source of the proteolytic enzyme bromelain