peach

1 of 2

noun

ˈpēch

: a low spreading freely branching Chinese tree (Prunus persica) of the rose family that has lanceolate leaves and sessile usually pink flowers and is widely cultivated in temperate areas for its edible fruit which is a single-seeded drupe with a hard central stone, a pulpy white or yellow flesh, and a thin fuzzy skin

: the edible fruit of the peach

: a moderate yellowish pink

: one resembling a peach (as in sweetness, beauty, or excellence)

peach

2 of 2

verb

peached; peaching; peaches

transitive verb

: to inform against : betray

intransitive verb

: to turn informer : blab

Did you know?

If you guessed that the origin of this verb peach has something to do with a slightly fuzzy fruit, you are unfortunately incorrect. The fruit peach is an unrelated word that traces back to the Latin phrase malum persicum, literally meaning "Persian fruit." The verb blossomed from Middle English apechen ("to accuse"), itself an offspring of the Anglo-French verbs apecher and empecher, both meaning "to ensnare." Empecher is also an ancestor of the English verb impeach, meaning "to bring an accusation against." Both of these English verbs can be traced back to Latin impedicare, meaning "to shackle the feet," and that word is itself rooted in ped-, pes, meaning "foot."

Examples of peach in a Sentence

Noun fondly remembers his old Studebaker as being a peach of a car

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

From a vineyard named for the younger Catena sister, this White Stone Chardonnay has brilliant minerality and acidity from the high-altitude terroir and aromas of lemon zest, white flowers, crushed oyster shell, and ripe peach. —

Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 21 Nov. 2024 Notes of ripe peach and lemon cream are moderated with a zesty profile of acidity and a fresh finish. —

Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 Fruit Canned fruits like peaches, pears, and pineapple are inexpensive to increase your produce intake. —

Lindsey Desoto, Rd, Health, 29 Oct. 2024 Fresh peaches are simply the best, and while this juicy stone fruit is in season, make a plan to enjoy the bounty as much as possible. —

Patricia S York, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for peach

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English peche, from Anglo-French pesche, peche (the fruit), from Late Latin persica, from Latin (malum) persicum, literally, Persian fruit

Verb

Middle English pechen, short for apechen to accuse, from Anglo-French apecher, empecher to ensnare — more at impeach

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1560, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of peach was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Peach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peach. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

peach

noun

ˈpēch

: a sweet juicy fruit with white or yellow flesh, a thin fuzzy skin, and a single seed enclosed in a rough stony covering that is produced by a low spreading Chinese tree related to the plums and cherries and grown in most temperate areas

also : this tree

: a moderate yellowish pink

Last Updated: 27 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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peach

noun

verb

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Synonyms

Examples of peach in a Sentence

Word History

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