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

see also:

apple of one's eye

Examples of apple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The bugs themselves are about the size of an apple seed. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 18 June 2026

Instead of cinnamon and nutmeg, try apple pie spice, or substitute some of all of the cinnamon or nutmeg for ground cardamom. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 18 June 2026

With aromas of Granny Smith apple and lemon zest, this wine features dazzling acidity and flavors of Meyer lemon, Bartlett pear, vanilla, and thyme. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 June 2026

Other McDonald’s pies Nothing beats classic apple, but McDonald’s has offered a revolving door of seasonal pie flavors over the years, McClatchy News previously reported. —Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026

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 of one's eye
• 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