CRAB APPLE

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does crab apple mean? 

• CRAB APPLE (noun)
  The noun CRAB APPLE has 3 senses:

1. any of numerous varieties of crab apples cultivated for their small acidic (usually bright red) fruit used for preserves or as ornamentals for their blossoms

2. any of numerous wild apple trees usually with small acidic fruit

3. small sour apple; suitable for preserving

  Familiarity information: CRAB APPLE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CRAB APPLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of numerous varieties of crab apples cultivated for their small acidic (usually bright red) fruit used for preserves or as ornamentals for their blossoms

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

crab apple; crabapple; cultivated crab apple

Hypernyms ("crab apple" is a kind of...):

apple tree (any tree of the genus Malus especially those bearing firm rounded edible fruits)

Meronyms (parts of "crab apple"):

crab apple; crabapple (small sour apple; suitable for preserving)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "crab apple"):

cherry apple; cherry crab; Malus baccata; Siberian crab; Siberian crab apple (Asian wild crab apple cultivated in many varieties for it small acid usually red fruit used for preserving)

flowering crab; Malus angustifolia; Southern crab apple (small tree or shrub of southeastern United States; cultivated as an ornamental for its rose-colored blossoms)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of numerous wild apple trees usually with small acidic fruit

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

crab apple; crabapple; wild apple

Hypernyms ("crab apple" is a kind of...):

apple tree (any tree of the genus Malus especially those bearing firm rounded edible fruits)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "crab apple"):

Malus sylvestris; wild crab (wild crab apple native to Europe; a chief ancestor of cultivated apples)

American crab apple; garland crab; Malus coronaria (medium-sized tree of the eastern United States having pink blossoms and small yellow fruit)

Malus fusca; Oregon crab apple (small tree or shrub of western United States having white blossoms and tiny yellow or red fruit)

Iowa crab; Iowa crab apple; Malus ioensis; prairie crab; western crab apple (wild crab apple of western United States with fragrant pink flowers)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Small sour apple; suitable for preserving

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

crab apple; crabapple

Context example:

crabapples make a tangy jelly

Hypernyms ("crab apple" is a kind of...):

apple (fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh)

Holonyms ("crab apple" is a part of...):

crab apple; crabapple; cultivated crab apple (any of numerous varieties of crab apples cultivated for their small acidic (usually bright red) fruit used for preserves or as ornamentals for their blossoms)