mela: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very High (A1)Neutral; used across all registers from everyday conversation to formal culinary/botanical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “mela” mean?
A sweet edible fruit produced by the Malus domestica tree.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sweet edible fruit produced by the Malus domestica tree.
The fruit itself, often associated with health, temptation (biblical), and technology (Apple Inc.). Also used metaphorically to denote something of a typical, wholesome, or fundamental nature.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The fruit itself is identical. Minor differences in preferred varieties (e.g., 'Cox's Orange Pippin' UK vs. 'Red Delicious' US) and some culinary terms.
Connotations
Similar core connotations (health, simplicity). In the US, strongly associated with American cultural identity ('as American as apple pie').
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “mela” in a Sentence
[VERB] + apple (e.g., eat, peel, core, pick, slice)[ADJECTIVE] + apple (e.g., rotten, shiny, green)[PREP] + apple (e.g., a bag of apples, a slice with apple)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mela” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The trees are expected to apple well this season.
American English
- This new variety apples earlier in the fall.
adjective
British English
- She made a lovely apple crumble for pudding.
American English
- He ordered an apple martini at the bar.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the technology company Apple Inc. (e.g., 'Apple released a new iPhone').
Academic
Used in botanical, agricultural, nutritional, and historical texts (e.g., 'The domestication of the apple').
Everyday
Discussions of food, cooking, health, and shopping (e.g., 'Could you buy some apples?').
Technical
In pomology (study of fruit), specific cultivars and rootstocks are named (e.g., 'M9 rootstock').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mela”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mela”
- Using uncountable form incorrectly (e.g., 'I eat apple every day' instead of '...an apple/apples...'). Overusing the capital 'A' when not referring to the brand.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily countable (an apple, two apples). It can be uncountable when referring to the substance or material (e.g., 'The pie contains apple and cinnamon').
In the UK, 'apple juice' is filtered and pasteurized, while 'cider' is an alcoholic drink. In the US, 'apple juice' is filtered and clear, while 'apple cider' is often unfiltered, cloudy, and can be non-alcoholic (especially when served hot). Alcoholic drink is 'hard cider' in the US.
Co-founder Steve Jobs stated he was on a fruitarian diet and thought the name sounded 'fun, spirited, and not intimidating'. It also came before 'Atari' in the phone book.
It refers to a person who causes trouble or has a bad influence within a group, from the proverb 'a bad apple spoils the barrel'.
A sweet edible fruit produced by the Malus domestica tree.
Mela is usually neutral; used across all registers from everyday conversation to formal culinary/botanical contexts. in register.
Mela: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæp.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæp.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the apple of one's eye”
- “a bad apple”
- “upset the apple cart”
- “how do you like them apples?”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the letter 'A' shaped like an apple with a bite taken out, like the famous logo.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE / TEMPTATION IS AN APPLE (from the biblical story of Adam and Eve); HEALTH / SIMPLICITY IS AN APPLE ('An apple a day keeps the doctor away').
Practice
Quiz
What is the meaning of the idiom 'the apple of one's eye'?