apple

noun

ap·​ple ˈa-pəl 

often attributive

1

: the fleshy, usually rounded red, yellow, or green edible pome fruit of a usually cultivated tree (genus Malus) of the rose family

also : an apple tree compare crab apple

2

: a fruit (such as a star apple) or other vegetative growth (such as an oak apple) suggestive of an apple

Phrases

apple of one's eye

: one that is highly cherished

his daughter is the apple of his eye

Examples of apple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Arsenic: 10 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic in apple juice. —Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025

However, continued research is needed to understand what type of apple is most effective, what part of the apple contains influential compounds, and how much should be consumed to support weight loss.20 12. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 13 Mar. 2025

Look out for typical dimensions of an apple body shape. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025

The red team even serves their corn and clam chowder inside of a hollowed apple at Vincenzo Loseto’s insistence — a move teammate Lana Lagomarsini side-eyed as a gimmick, but which pays off when Tom scrapes the bottom and gets a delicious bite of apple and chowder and chive relish. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English appel, from Old English æppel; akin to Old High German apful apple, Old Irish ubull, Old Church Slavic ablŭko

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing apple

• Adam's apple
• apple butter
• apple-cheeked
• apple-knocker
• apple maggot
• apple-pie
• apple-polish
• apple scab
• (as) American as apple pie
• bad apple
• candy apple
• cedar-apple rust
• crab apple
• custard apple
• in apple-pie order
• lady apple
• love apple
• oak apple
• star apple
• sugar apple
• the apple of someone's eye
• thorn apple
• upset the apple cart

Rhymes for apple

• appal
• chapel
• dapple
• grapple
• pineapple

Kids Definition

apple

noun

ap·​ple ˈap-əl 

: a rounded fruit with a red, yellow, or green skin, firm white flesh and a seedy core

also : the tree of the rose family that bears this fruit

Medical Definition

apple

noun

ap·​ple ˈap-əl 

: the fleshy usually rounded and red, yellow, or green edible pome fruit of a tree (genus Malus) of the rose family

also : an apple tree