plural peas also pease ˈpēz How to pronounce pea (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: a variable annual Eurasian vine (Pisum sativum) of the legume family that is cultivated especially for its rounded smooth or wrinkled edible protein-rich seeds
b
: the seed of the pea
c
peas also pease plural : the immature pods of the pea with their included seeds
2
: any of various leguminous plants related to or resembling the pea
usually used in combination or with a qualifying term
chickpea
black-eyed pea
also : the seed of such a plant
3
: something resembling a pea (as in size or shape)

Illustration of pea

Illustration of pea
  • pea 1a

Examples of pea in a Sentence

We're growing tomatoes and peas in our garden this year.
Recent Examples on the Web To my surprise, my favorite was the calamari and peas, an old family recipe of Baldino’s. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 In my view, Biden and Trump are two peas in the same pod, with each blaming the other for their failures. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Spell broken, Po pads off having summed up this frantic sequel in, well, a pea. Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 The machine steamed the carrots and peas and then automatically switched to blend without any user intervention. Laura Denby, Parents, 29 Feb. 2024 Add the remaining ½ pound split peas and simmer about 1 hour, or until the peas are soft. Ali Slagle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024 So, Hewitt kept experimenting with vodka and butterfly pea tea flower, and butterfly pea tea was finally approved as an ingredient in September 2021. Jeanette Hurt, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Something about the princess and the pea: being the pea. Lucy Corin, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2024 Stir in the chicken, cream and peas and reduce the heat to low. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pea.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from Middle English pease (taken as a plural), from Old English pise, from Latin pisa, plural of pisum, from Greek pison

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of pea was in 1666

Dictionary Entries Near pea

Cite this Entry

“Pea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pea. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pea

noun
plural peas also pease ˈpēz How to pronounce pea (audio)
1
a
: a plant of the legume family that is widely grown for its pods of protein-rich edible rounded seeds
b
: the seed of a pea
2
: a plant (as the sweet pea) related to the pea

More from Merriam-Webster on pea

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