Avocado \Av`o*ca"do\, n. [Corrupted from the Mexican ahuacatl: cf. Sp. aguacate, F. aguacat['e], avocat, G. avogadobaum.] The pulpy fruit of {Persea gratissima}, a tree of tropical America. It is about the size and shape of a large pear; -- called also {avocado pear}, {alligator pear}, {midshipman's butter}.