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

Team it with ballet flats or sneakers for a casual day of apple-picking or tailgating this season, or dress it up with tights and boots for holiday celebrations and other special occasions. —Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Grab one in every scent, from deep, leathered amber to light, crisp apple, and enjoy 40 hours of burn time per jar. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025

The whisky is lovely despite its age (remember, sometimes older whiskies are not actually that good), with notes of caramel, licorice, mango, apple, berry, cinnamon, and a slight wisp of smoke on the palate. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025

There are so many ways to bake apple pie, but this flaky, double-crust recipe is Grandma's favorite. —Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 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