vi apple
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A common round fruit with red, yellow, or green skin and firm white flesh.
The tree that bears this fruit (Malus domestica). Also used figuratively to refer to something considered quintessentially American (the Big Apple for New York City) or to a person's eye (as in 'apple of my eye').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word can be used both as a countable noun for the fruit and as an uncountable noun for the flesh/flavour (e.g., 'a taste of apple'). The metaphorical uses (e.g., 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree') are common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in the core meaning. The phrase 'apple pie' is strongly associated with American culture. The idiom 'apple of discord' is more common in British literary contexts.
Connotations
In American English, 'apple' carries strong cultural connotations of wholesomeness and tradition ('as American as apple pie'). In both varieties, 'a bad apple' means a troublesome person.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + apple: eat, bite, peel, core, pick, growADJECTIVE + apple: ripe, sour, juicy, baked, forbiddenVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the apple of one's eye”
- “a bad/rotten apple”
- “apple of discord”
- “how do you like them apples?”
- “the apple doesn't fall far from the tree”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In business, refers to the tech company Apple Inc. or agribusiness (apple farming).
Academic
In botany/horticulture, refers to the species Malus domestica; in cultural studies, as a symbol.
Everyday
Used for the common fruit, cooking, and in common idioms.
Technical
In computing, refers to Apple-branded products and ecosystem (iOS, macOS).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The chef will apple the tart with Bramleys.
American English
- She plans to apple the pie with Granny Smiths.
adjective
British English
- The apple crumble was delicious.
American English
- We visited an apple orchard in the fall.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I eat an apple every day.
- This apple is red and sweet.
- Could you pass me the apple juice, please?
- She's baking an apple pie for dessert.
- The proverb 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' promotes healthy eating.
- He's the apple of his grandmother's eye.
- The company's strategy was the apple of discord that split the board.
- Agricultural subsidies have transformed the traditional apple-growing regions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the 'A' in 'apple' as the leaf on top of the round fruit.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS AN APPLE (e.g., 'She's the apple of my eye' = she is cherished; 'He's a bad apple' = he is corrupting).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'pineapple' (ананас). 'Apple' is specifically 'яблоко'.
- The phrase 'Adam's apple' translates as 'кадык' (the throat protrusion), not a direct reference to the fruit.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'apples' not 'apple' for multiple fruits.
- Confusing 'apple' (fruit) with 'Apple' (brand).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'a bad apple' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily countable (an apple, two apples). It can be uncountable when referring to the substance (e.g., 'This cake needs more apple').
A crabapple is a smaller, wilder, and often tarter species of apple. Cultivated eating apples are typically from Malus domestica.
The term was popularized in the 1920s by jazz musicians meaning 'the big time' or the top venue. It later became the city's official nickname in a 1970s tourism campaign.
Yes, though it's rare. It means to add apples to something (e.g., 'to apple a pie') or to become covered in small rounded protuberances (like apple-shaped buds).