crab apple

American  

noun

1. a small, sour, wild apple.

2. any of various small, tart, cultivated varieties of apple, used for making jelly and preserves.

3. any tree bearing such fruit.

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crab apple British  

noun

1. any of several rosaceous trees of the genus Malus that have white, pink, or red flowers and small sour apple-like fruits

2. the fruit of any of these trees, used to make jam

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Etymology

Origin of crab apple

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

"Joe, who works for me, came in and he had one little crab apple," Dame Judi told the BBC.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2024

The account shared a photo that some said was taken from a vantage point that neglected to show how the cherry blossom and crab apple trees were removed.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2021

She would settle for ripping the crab apple trees out of Jackie Kennedy’s rose garden.

From Slate • Nov. 7, 2020

The plan will also replace crab apple trees with white rose shrubs and add new drainage systems.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2020

From a nearby crab apple tree, a small ball of confused bees hung like a ragged skein of yarn.

From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby