apple

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A common, firm, round fruit produced by a tree of the genus Malus.

   • [T]hey [i.e., writers] aſſigne and lay to India, the countrey of the Aſpagores, ſo plentifull in vines, laurels, and box, and generally of all ſorts of apple trees and other fruitfull trees that grovv vvithin Greece.
   • VVhat of my droſs thou findeſt there, be bold / To throvv avvay, but yet preserve the Gold. / VVhat if my Gold be vvrapped up in Ore? / None throvvs avvay the Apple for the Core.
2. 2

   A tree of the genus Malus

   A tree of the genus Malus; especially Malus domestica which is cultivated for its edible fruit; the apple tree.

   • Trees that beare Maſt, and Nuts, are commonly more laſting, than thoſe that beare Fruits; Eſpecially the Moiſter Fruits: As Oakes, Beeches, Cheſ-nuts, VVall-nuts, Almonds, Pine-Trees, &c. laſt longer than Apples, Peares, Plums, &c.
   • If the grafted portion of an Apple or other tree were examined after one hundred years, the old cut surfaces would still be present, for mature or ripened wood, being dead, never unites.
   • This allows a weak plant to benefit from the strong roots of another, or a vigorous tree (such as an apple) to be kept small by growing on 'dwarfing rootstock'.
3. 3

   Synonym of applewood (“the wood of the apple tree”).

4. ›+ 13 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      A fruit of any kind.

   2. 5

      A person.

      • “I saw a little guy with a can opener fooling around that gum machine,” was the reply. “And then?” asked McGonigle. “I can’t say,” replied the poor apple.
      • “Take it easy with Thompson, Eddie,” he said lazily. “He’s a good apple but he’s mighty tough to go pushing around. He’s had a lot of bad luck lately.”
      • Pop delighted in calling his grandson Blenheim; it was such a nice round apple of a name. ‘Well, how’s Charley boy? And how’s my little apple?’
   3. 6

      Synonym of CBer (“a CB radio enthusiast”).

   4. 7

      An assist.

   5. 8

      A Native American or redskinned person who acts or thinks like a white (Caucasian) person.

      • My ancestors five generations removed were "apples" who were "White" on the inside and "Red" on the outside. […] We need a new breed of "apples."
      • The presenter, close to tears, told the audience that she's really an apple—white on the inside and red on the outside—Native American.
   6. 9

      To make (something) appear like an apple (noun sense 1.1).

      • A large smile appled his full cheeks as the four sprytes eagerly served themselves from the seeds and thinly sliced fruits.
   7. 10

      To become like an apple.

      • He glanced at me, his cheeks appled in the impish grin I was learning to recognise as the clever under-side of his broad and gentle smile.
      • She smiled, and her cheeks appled up and her teeth were big and flat and her mouth was wide and spacious like an open invitation.
   8. 11

      To collect fir-cones.

   9. 12

      Of a flower bud or vegetable (especially a root vegetable)

      Of a flower bud or vegetable (especially a root vegetable): to grow into the shape of an apple.

      • To Pome or Apple, is ſaid of the Heads of Artichokes vvhen they grovv round, and full ſhaped as an Apple. It is ſaid alſo of Lettuce, &c.
   10. 13

       Nickname for New York City

       Nickname for New York City: a major city in New York, United States; more commonly in the form the Big Apple.

   11. 14

       A female given name from English.

   12. 15

       A surname.

   13. 16

       A computer produced by the company Apple Inc.

       • Arthur bought the Apple anyway. Over a few days he also acquired some astronomical software, plotted the movements of stars, drew rough little diagrams of how he seemed to remember the stars to have been […]

The neighborhood

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