ap·ple (?p??l)n.1. a. A cultivated deciduous tree (Malus domestica or M. pumila) in the rose family, native to Eurasia and having alternate simple leaves and white or pink flowers.b. The firm, edible, usually rounded fruit of this tree.2. a. Any of several other plants, especially those with fruits suggestive of the apple, such as the crabapple or custard apple.b. The fruit of any of these plants.Idiom: apple of (one’s) eye One that is treasured: Her grandson is the apple of her eye.[Middle English appel, from Old English æppel.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.apple (?æp?l) n1. (Plants) a rosaceous tree, Malus sieversii, native to Central Asia but widely cultivated in temperate regions in many varieties, having pink or white fragrant flowers and firm rounded edible fruits. See also crab apple2. (Plants) the fruit of this tree, having red, yellow, or green skin and crisp whitish flesh3. (Forestry) the wood of this tree4. (Plants) any of several unrelated trees that have fruits similar to the apple, such as the custard apple, sugar apple, and May apple. See also love apple, oak apple, thorn apple5. apple of one’s eye a person or thing that is very precious or much loved6. bad apple rotten apple a person with a corrupting influence[Old English æppel; related to Old Saxon appel, Old Norse apall, Old High German apful]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014ap?ple (?æp ?l) n. 1. the usu. round red or yellow edible fruit of a small tree, Malus sylvestris, of the rose family. 2. the tree, cultivated in most temperate regions. 3. the fruit of any of other species of tree of the same genus. 4. any of various other similar fruits or plants, as the custard apple. Idioms: apple of one’s eye, someone or something very precious or dear to one; a favorite. [before 900; Middle English; Old English æppel, c. Old Frisian appel, Old Saxon apl, appul, Old High German apful, Crimean Gothic apel] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.