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 spiced apple filling is pocketed inside a crisp pie-dough shell, which is coated in cinnamon sugar. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024

The palate is a bit hot without becoming aggressive at that proof, with classic bourbon notes of cinnamon, baked apple, molasses, brown sugar, and honey, and a flash of black pepper and mint on the finish. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2024

When comparing apples to apples, Luminate clarified that record sales are actually up 6.2% in 2024. —Brad Moon, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

And that’s when the fun begins because a big part of an apple breeder’s job is tasting apples. —Laura Helmuth, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 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