■ noun
1》 the rounded fruit of a tree of the rose family, with green or red skin and crisp flesh.
2》 the tree which bears ~s. [Genus Malus : numerous cultivated forms.]
3》 used in names of similar unrelated fruits, e.g. custard ~ .
Phrases
the ~ of one's eye a person of whom one is extremely fond and proud. [orig. denoting the pupil of the eye, extended as a symbol of something cherished.]
~s and pears Brit. rhyming slang stairs.
a rotten (or bad ) ~ informal a corrupt person in a group, likely to have a detrimental influence on the others.
upset the ~ cart spoil a plan.
Derivatives
~y adjective
Origin
OE æppel , of Gmc origin.