apple
/ˈæp.əl/
The word 'apple' is a common noun. It is typically used as a countable noun, meaning you can have one apple, two apples, etc. 'Apple' can also refer to the tree that bears the fruit, though this usage is less common in everyday conversation. In computing, 'Apple' (capitalized) refers to the technology company and its products, like the iPhone or MacBook.
💬Casual Conversation
Just thinking about a crisp Earth apple. Remember those?
The last shipment's gone. We're on nutrient paste until next cycle.
Collocations & Compounds
apple pie
A pie with a filling of apples.
We ate a slice of warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream.
apple cider
A drink made from pressed apples.
In the fall, I love to drink hot apple cider.
apple juice
The liquid extracted from apples.
She prefers apple juice to orange juice.
apple tree
A tree that produces apples.
The apple tree in our backyard is full of fruit this year.
apple crumble
A dessert with a topping of crumbled pastry or biscuits over stewed apples.
For dessert, we had a delicious apple crumble.
Idioms & Sayings
the apple of one's eye
A person or thing that someone cherishes above all others.
His youngest daughter is the apple of his eye.
an apple a day
A saying suggesting that eating an apple every day promotes good health.
Remember, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
upset the apple cart
To spoil a plan or arrangement.
He didn't mean to upset the apple cart, but his late arrival ruined the surprise.
bad apple
A bad person in a group or organization, whose behavior corrupts others.
One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.
compare apples and oranges
To compare two things that are fundamentally different and cannot be logically compared.
You can't compare apples and oranges when evaluating their performance; they have different goals.
Cultural Context
In the annals of Greek mythology, few objects hold as much fateful significance as the Golden Apple of Discord. This seemingly innocuous piece of fruit, hurled into a wedding feast by a spurned goddess, set in motion a chain of events that culminated in one of history's most epic conflicts: the Trojan War.
The story begins at the lavish wedding of Peleus, a mortal king, and the sea nymph Thetis, parents of the legendary Achilles. All the gods and goddesses of Olympus were invited, save one: Eris, the goddess of discord. Naturally, Eris was furious at this slight. Seeking revenge, she crafted a golden apple and inscribed it with the words 'To the Fairest'. She then tossed it into the midst of the wedding banquet, knowing full well the chaos it would unleash.
Immediately, three powerful goddesses—Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite—claimed the apple, each believing herself to be the most beautiful. Unable to settle the dispute, Zeus, wisely, refused to judge, instead delegating the impossible task to Paris, a Trojan prince known for his discerning eye. Each goddess offered Paris an irresistible bribe: Hera promised him power and a vast empire, Athena offered wisdom and victory in battle, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, offered him the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Sparta.
Paris, swayed by passion, chose Aphrodite's offer. His subsequent abduction of Helen ignited the Trojan War, a decade-long siege that brought heroes like Achilles, Odysseus, and Hector to their legendary fates. The Golden Apple of Discord, a simple fruit, thus became the catalyst for an epic saga of love, betrayal, heroism, and destruction, reminding us that sometimes, the smallest spark can ignite the greatest conflagrations.
Etymology
The word 'apple' comes from the Old English word 'æppel'. Its origins are Germanic, and it's related to similar words in other Germanic languages like Dutch 'appel' and German 'Apfel'. The exact Proto-Germanic root is uncertain, but it likely referred to fruit in general before becoming specific to the fruit we know today.