[ap.ple] n, often attrib [ME appel, fr. OE aeppel; akin to OHG apful apple, OIr ubull, OCS abluko] (bef. 12c) 1: the fleshy usu. rounded and red, yellow, or green edible pome fruit of a tree (genus Malus) of the rose family; also: an apple tree
2: a fruit or other vegetable production suggestive of an apple--compare oak apple -- apple of one's eye : one that is highly cherished "his daughter is the apple of his eye"