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

At the start of the series, viewers watch Wednesday pour two bags of piranha in the Nancy Reagan High School swimming pool to send a message to one of the swimmers, Dalton, who bullied her younger brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) by shutting him in a locker, tied up, with an apple in his mouth. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025

Tamra replies, which is kind of like comparing rotten apples with moldy oranges, but fine, logic is not required here. —Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 1 Aug. 2025

Classic sprinkles and s’mores topped varieties are on the menu, along with fresh apple fritters. —Charlottefive Staff, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2025

The meals also include fries, apple slices and a kid's drink like milk, water or apple juice. —Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 July 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