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

For the filling, Arévalo recommends using apples with their fiber-rich peels on. —Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 25 Nov. 2025

Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy Austrian apple strudel, Belgian hot chocolate, or delicate French pastries. —Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025

Outdoors, the park-like grounds were redesigned by Coleman’s wife of 21 years, music producer and manager Renata Kanclerz, and host a three-tier vineyard with Merlot and Thompson Seedless grapes, as well as Fuji apple and avocado trees. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 25 Nov. 2025

Each dinner is served with mashed potatoes & gravy, carrots, green beans, a dinner roll, and your choice of pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or apple pie slice. —Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 24 Nov. 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