pear

1. a widely cultivated rosaceous tree, Pyrus communis, having white flowers and edible fruits

2. the sweet gritty-textured juicy fruit of this tree, which has a globular base and tapers towards the apex

3. the wood of this tree, used for making furniture

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

pear

Alternate pointed oval simple leaves with shiny top. Can handle cold quite well. White (rarely pink) 5 -petal flowers. Some pears look just like apples, but fruit flesh is gritty and tastes like pear. High fiber used for constipation, colon, breast and other cancers, cholesterol, heart, immune system, antioxidant quercitin, energy, osteoporosis, shortness of breath, vocal cords, voice.

pear

[per]

(botany)

Any of several tree species of the genus Pyrus in the order Rosales, cultivated for their fruit, a pome that is wider at the apical end and has stone cells throughout the flesh.

pear

symbol of love and tenderness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 176]

See: Love

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References in periodicals archive

"And in the second half it all went pear-shaped and now we must pick ourselves up and get on with it.

'IT ALL WENT PEAR- S S H H A A P P E E D D ' '

Vineyard Vintage Precious grapes are reserved for the finest wines--and for the owner of this estate brooch ($14,900), which features grape clusters crafted of baguette, round and pear-shaped diamonds (7.50 total carats) and 26 white pearls.

Vintage pin-ups: beautiful brooches from ages past

Yes, things have previously gone pear-shaped (was the Fourth Disgrace pear-shaped?

Voice of the Echo: Get it right this time

So she suggests pear-shaped women learn to love their curves.

It's your shape and not weight that really counts; HEALTH & BEAUTY

A blue suit, a little bit of padding to make him a bit pear-shaped on the bottom, and some sneakers.

Tina Fey

People who have a large waist-to-hip ratio ("apple-shaped" people) have been know to be more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than "pear-shaped" people, who have lower ratios.

Apple-shaped people at risk for diabetes

We tried the smaller, inexpensive models but recommend the larger, pear-shaped, locking carabiner that real mountain climbers use ($15 at www.rei.com).

Ready wrenches

People with body shapes resembling apples ate more likely to develop serious health problems than their pear-shaped counterparts, warn obesity experts.

Watch your waistline

Doc Martin, whose once glittering career as a surgeon went pear-shaped, opts for a calmer life as a GP, but immediately clashes with the locals in Portwenn, who dislike his gruff nature.

TV GUIDE: BEST ON THE BOX; Don't miss!

It will all go pear-shaped, should her boss back off or cool off, or both.

THE MAG: ASK ANNA: SHE'S THE ANSWER TO ALL YOUR PROBLEMS - PHOTO CASEBOOK I fancy my married boss

"There is clear evidence that people with 'apple-shaped' bodies are more prone to heart disease, strokes, diabetes and perhaps even cancer, than those people with pear-shaped forms." she wrote.

Beer bellies greater risk than female flab

Although the film is by no means slavish in its period re-creation, Jacobi is uncannily like Bacon in physical presence and gesture, even to the plumply rounded forearms and pear-shaped face.

It ain't the meat