Main Entry:

ap·ple

Pronunciation:

\ˈa-pəl\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

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

Date:

before 12th century

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 apple2: a fruit (as a star apple) or other vegetative growth (as an oak apple) suggestive of an apple

— apple of one's eye

: one that is highly cherished <his daughter is the apple of his eye>