love apple
Very Low / ArchaicArchaic, Historical, Literary
Definition
Meaning
An archaic or poetic term for a tomato.
A now-obsolete term for the tomato fruit, historically used due to folk beliefs about its aphrodisiac properties or as a euphemism.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is now considered a historical curiosity. In modern contexts, its use is almost exclusively in historical texts, discussions of etymology, or as a deliberate archaism for stylistic effect. It is not used to refer to modern tomatoes in everyday language.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term was historically used in both varieties but is now equally obsolete in both. No significant contemporary regional difference exists.
Connotations
Conveys a quaint, old-fashioned, or deliberately whimsical tone if used today.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in contemporary corpora for both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be called a love applerefer to X as a love appleknow the tomato as a love appleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Might appear in historical or etymological studies of food, language, or cultural beliefs.
Everyday
Not used. Would cause confusion or be perceived as a joke.
Technical
Not used in botany or agriculture; the standard term is 'tomato'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The old seed catalogue listed 'love apples' next to the potatoes.
- In her diary, she wrote of cooking a sauce from love apples.
American English
- Early American settlers were sometimes wary of eating love apples.
- The historical recipe called for four love apples, peeled and seeded.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Long ago, people called tomatoes 'love apples'.
- A love apple is just an old name for a tomato.
- The term 'love apple' originates from a mistranslation and the fruit's once-supposed aphrodisiac qualities.
- In this 18th-century text, the author recommends growing love apples in the kitchen garden.
- Despite its alluring moniker 'love apple', the tomato was initially met with suspicion in parts of Europe.
- The lexical shift from 'love apple' to 'tomato' reflects the demystification of the fruit in Western cuisine.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a romantic (love) offering that's red and round like an APPLE, but is actually a TOMATO.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESIRE/ROMANCE IS AN EDIBLE FRUIT (based on its folk history as an aphrodisiac).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Never translate this as 'любовное яблоко' to mean a modern tomato. In Russian, 'помидор' or 'томат' must be used. The phrase 'любовное яблоко' would be understood only as a direct, puzzling translation of this archaic English term.
- May be confused with 'Adam's apple' (кадык).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'love apple' in a modern grocery context.
- Assuming it refers to a type of apple or a romantic gift.
- Translating it literally into other languages in contemporary contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might you authentically encounter the term 'love apple' today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an entirely archaic term. Using it today would sound strange or deliberately old-fashioned.
The etymology is debated but often involves a folk etymology from the French 'pomme d'amour' and historical beliefs in the tomato's aphrodisiac properties.
Only if you are writing about the history of the word, historical cuisine, or using it as a quoted term from a historical source. It is not the standard term.
Recognize 'love apple' as a historical synonym for 'tomato', but always use the word 'tomato' in modern speaking and writing.