apple

noun

ap·​ple ˈa-pəl How to pronounce apple (audio)
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 Read on below: 14 Thanksgiving turkey recipes for a variety of tastes and skills Thanksgiving sides for every table, including green beans and mac and cheese Our top Thanksgiving dessert recipes, including pumpkin and apple pies How much turkey per person? Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 15 Nov. 2023 Add the prunes and the apples to the pot, and stir to incorporate. Jonathan Miles, Field & Stream, 15 Nov. 2023 But Grandma’s son, Uncle James—the apple of her eye, 10 years older than my mother—had just graduated from Stanford Law School and was a radical. Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023 In this flavorful cranberry apple pie recipe, the tart cranberries and apples soften, and the flavors merge together. Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023 Encased in colorful 4-inch ceramic vessels meant to be displayed, the collection features scents inspired by vacation destinations including Mykonos (almond, rhubarb, wild fig and tonka bean) and Ibiza (bergamot, lemon, green apple and patchouli). Sarah Grossbart, wsj.com, 9 Nov. 2023 The filling is roasted first to draw out and concentrate the apple juices, ensuring soft, cooked fruit and a fully baked bottom crust in the finished pie. Claire Saffitz, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 Take the peels and cores of all your apples and throw them in a pot with a few oranges and fall spices. People Staff, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023 Many plants — including tomatoes, apples, pears, plums and cherries — planted in soil previously occupied by members of a related species suffer decline and sometimes even die. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apple.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apple was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near apple

Cite this Entry

“Apple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apple. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

apple

noun
ap·​ple ˈap-əl How to pronounce apple (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce apple (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on apple

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