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

The bushy shrub usually grows on trees with soft bark like hawthorn, linden, poplar, and apple trees. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Dec. 2024

Customers have a choice between beef tenderloin with red wine sauce and sage and apple turkey breast with gravy, as well as a variety of sides, bread and desserts. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 13 Dec. 2024

Arrange salad: Arrange spinach mixture on a large serving platter and top with apple slices, blue cheese, cranberries, and pecans. —Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2024

Pfingsten said species of concern that may have been spread by both storms include the Burmese python, the giant apple snail and the Asian swamp eel. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024

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

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