apple tree

/ˈæpl̩ tɹiː/

//ˈæpl̩ tɹiː// noun

"apple-tree" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“apple tree” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
10
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Any tree that bears apples, principally Malus domestica but also certain wild species.

Key facts for apple tree
PropertyValue
Headwordapple tree
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈæpl̩ tɹiː/
Letters10
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “apple tree” sits in English frequency

apple tree falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for apple tree is 10 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈæpl̩ tɹiː/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Any tree that bears apples, principally Malus domestica but also certain wild species.".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for apple tree, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English appeltre, appiltre, appultre, from Old English æppeltrēow, corresponding to apple + tree. Cognate with Danish æbletræ, Swedish äppelträd, Norwegian epletre, Icelandic eplatré. The correct English form is apple tree, spelled A-P-P-L-E- -T-R-E-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Any tree that bears apples, principally Malus domestica but also certain wild species.

Etymology

From Middle English appeltre, appiltre, appultre, from Old English æppeltrēow, corresponding to apple + tree. Cognate with Danish æbletræ, Swedish äppelträd, Norwegian epletre, Icelandic eplatré.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "apple tree"?
"apple tree" is spelled A-P-P-L-E- -T-R-E-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈæpl̩ tɹiː/.
What does "apple tree" mean?
As a noun, "apple tree" means: Any tree that bears apples, principally Malus domestica but also certain wild species.
How do you pronounce "apple tree"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "apple tree" is /ˈæpl̩ tɹiː/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "apple tree"?
From Middle English appeltre, appiltre, appultre, from Old English æppeltrēow, corresponding to apple + tree. Cognate with Danish æbletræ, Swedish äppelträd, Norwegian epletre, Icelandic eplatré. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “apple tree”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-P-P-L-E- -T-R-E-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈæpl̩ tɹiː/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list