crab apple
noun
: any of various wild or cultivated trees (genus Malus) that are cultivars or relatives of the cultivated apple and that produce small sour fruit
also
: the fruit
Examples of crab apple in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It’s decorated with real pinecones, faux crab apples, and holly berries, as well as a weather-resistant bow.
—
Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023
Anxo sixth anniversary Six years ago, when Anxo became the first licensed cider makers in D.C. since Prohibition, its debut ciders were made with crab apples foraged from the yards of friends.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 25 May 2023
The High Altar will also be decorated with seasonal foliage such as crab apple blossom, amelanchier, camellia, acer, hazel, rhododendron, and azalea alongside beech cut from an ancient cluster of trees at RHS Garden Bridgewater.
—Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 4 May 2023
And moose head into town too, avoiding deep snow in the mountains and finding crab apples that plunk down along Anchorage streets.
—Morgan Krakow, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Feb. 2023
Clean up diseased or infested plants: If any of your plants had a serious problem, such as apple scab on crab apple trees or black spot on rose bushes, clean them up to reduce the risk that the problem will return next year.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022
Traditional mezcal, rompope (or Mexican eggnog), and a punch made of tejocote (crab apple), cinnamon, pears, and sugar.
—Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2022
Allan noted that his current project, the red flesh apple, contains a single gene taken from a crab apple which increases its antioxidants.
—New York Times, 20 July 2021
Soon after, his class planted a crab apple tree outside the school.
—New York Times, 13 July 2022
See More
Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2023
Anxo sixth anniversary Six years ago, when Anxo became the first licensed cider makers in D.C. since Prohibition, its debut ciders were made with crab apples foraged from the yards of friends.
—Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 25 May 2023
The High Altar will also be decorated with seasonal foliage such as crab apple blossom, amelanchier, camellia, acer, hazel, rhododendron, and azalea alongside beech cut from an ancient cluster of trees at RHS Garden Bridgewater.
—Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 4 May 2023
And moose head into town too, avoiding deep snow in the mountains and finding crab apples that plunk down along Anchorage streets.
—Morgan Krakow, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Feb. 2023
Clean up diseased or infested plants: If any of your plants had a serious problem, such as apple scab on crab apple trees or black spot on rose bushes, clean them up to reduce the risk that the problem will return next year.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 20 Nov. 2022
Traditional mezcal, rompope (or Mexican eggnog), and a punch made of tejocote (crab apple), cinnamon, pears, and sugar.
—Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2022
Allan noted that his current project, the red flesh apple, contains a single gene taken from a crab apple which increases its antioxidants.
—New York Times, 20 July 2021
Soon after, his class planted a crab apple tree outside the school.
—New York Times, 13 July 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crab 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
First Known Use
1680, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near crab apple
Cite this Entry
“Crab apple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crab%20apple. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
crab apple
noun
: any of several cultivated or wild trees related to the apple tree and producing a small sour fruit
also
: the fruit
More from Merriam-Webster on crab apple
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crab apple
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