apple

play

noun, often attributive ap·ple \ˈa-pəl\

Definition of apple

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

apple of one's eye

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

See apple defined for English-language learners

See apple defined for kids

Recent Examples of apple from the Web

First, take two fingers and place them above your Adam's apple.

— esquire editors, Esquire, "How to Trim Your Beard Without a Trip to the Barber", 3 July 2017
Sorry McDonald's. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa linebacker Jacquez Jones, an SEC recruit, has distanced himself from the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, his favorite fast-food snack, in favor of apples and oranges, broccoli and asparagus.

— gary estwick, AL.com, "SEC football recruit gives up double quarter pounder with cheese", 3 July 2017
The internet is full of bogus health claims about apple cider vinegar, but few actually check out.

— elizabeth narins, Cosmopolitan, "13 Reasons Apple Cider Vinegar Is the Magic Potion You Need in Your Life", 3 July 2017
Switchel 4 cups water ½ cup apple cider vinegar ¼ cup molasses ½ cup brown sugar 1 tbsp.

— judy buchenot, Naperville Sun, "Family embraces farm-to-table lifestyle", 1 July 2017
There’s plenty of pop-up chefs’ stations, urban farmers, and Adidas Stan Smiths here, along with Mercier Orchards, whose handcrafted ciders are enough to convince the apple-averse to buy a four-pack.

— perri ormont blumberg, Bon Appetit, "13 Farmers’ Markets Worth Traveling For", 28 June 2017
His daughter Madison is the apple of her father’s eye, enjoying insider status.

— jeffrey ann goudie, kansascity.com, "‘Our Little Racket’ is a dark look at money-rich, grit-poor Connecticut wives", 24 June 2017
Both apples and roses are members of the huge Rosaceae family.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Let new roses bloom; raised beds sometimes need an adjustment", 21 June 2017
With what cops face 24/7 every day the fact that there are so few bad apples is a tribute to them and their training/process. --

— the tylt, AL.com, "Is the US doing enough to hold cops accountable?", 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'apple'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.