Crab Apple (Noun)
Meaning 1
Small sour apple; suitable for preserving; "crabapples make a tangy jelly".
Classification
Nouns denoting foods and drinks.
Examples
- The crab apple tree in our backyard produces the perfect ingredient for homemade jam.
- Grandma's secret recipe for crab apple pie had been passed down for generations.
- Crab apples add a unique flavor and texture to many savory sauces and chutneys.
- The farmer's market was filled with vendors selling crab apple jelly and other homemade preserves.
- Crab apples are often overlooked as a snack, but they can be quite tasty when paired with a sweet cheese.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Any of numerous wild apple trees usually with small acidic fruit.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The landscape architect incorporated crab apple trees into the garden design to provide a splash of vibrant color during the spring season.
- Wildlife in the forest rely heavily on the fruit of the crab apple trees as a primary source of food.
- The homeowner was disappointed to learn that the small trees she thought were ornamental apples were actually just wild crab apple trees.
- The farmer grafted the stems of a cultivated apple variety onto the rootstock of a crab apple tree to improve its chances of survival.
- As a child, she loved making homemade jam with the small, tart fruit of the crab apple trees that grew near her home.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 3
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.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The neighborhood children would often steal crab apples from the elderly lady's yard and make faces at each other for their tart taste.
- A single crab apple tree had been left on the large lot, creating a splash of vibrant color amidst a sea of newly built houses.
- For generations crab apples in this town had been pressed to create ciders of renown that many would make the trip for.
- Cuts of beautiful pink crab apples filled a bowl on the porch near the huge wooden rocking chair and adjacent rocking porch swing surrounded by pink petunias.
- Years ago they planted crab apples trees along the road knowing the flowers would be more visible for people passing by their front yard with their newly planted tulips.