Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

adam's apple

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.19 in modern English

Syllables: adam's ap-ple
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The lump in the throat, usually more noticeable in men than in women; the laryngeal prominence.

noun

Any member of the species Tabernaemontana divaricata of fragrant houseplants, native to southeast Asia.

noun

Any of hybrid species Musa × paradisiaca, of cultivated bananas.

noun

A citron (Citrus limetta, syn. of Citrus medica).

Example Sentences

"That same bunch which is seen on the foreside of the Neck, is called Adams Apple, because the common people have a beliefe, that by the judgement of God, a part of that fatal Apple, abode sticking in Adams Throat, and is so communicated to his posterity"
"He was seated some way down a table at right angles to the one at which I sat, a man of mean appearance with a greyish complexion, thin, with a square nose, a heavy wiry moustache and a big Adam's apple sticking out between the wings of his collar."
"The thickness of his wrist and the greatness of his fingers made authentic the mighty frame of him hidden under loose dungaree pants and cotton shirt, buttonless, open from midriff to Adam’s apple, exposing a chest matted with a thatch of hair as white as that of his head and face."
"A barber shop and pool room. A man in shirt sleeves, presumably Del Snafflin the proprietor, shaving a man who had a large Adam's apple."
"And our young – well, youngish, since the male cast is now 90% Adam’s apple – heroes have to stop him."
"The fourth [name of the citron] is named of diuers Pomum Assyrium, or Citron of Assyria, and may be Englished Adams apple, after the Italian name, and among the vulgar sort of Italians Lomie, of whom it is also called Pomum Adami, or Adams apple, and that came by the opinion of the commom rude people, who thinke it to be the same Apple, of which Adam did eate in Paradise when he transgressed Gods commandement"

Etymology

Calque of Latin pomum Adami, which is found in the botanical sense from 1560 and the anatomical sense from 1600. According to the earliest sources, the anatomical usage derives from a common belief that Adam was punished by God for the fall of man by having a piece of the forbidden fruit lodged in his throat (see 1662 citation).

Inflected Forms

Adam's apples (plural)

Synonyms

Adam's morsel apple apple of Adam laryngeal prominence goozle crape jasmine pinwheel flower Nero's crown butterfly gardenia carnation of India East Indian rosebay Tabernaemontana coronaria

Questions

What does adam's apple mean?: The lump in the throat, usually more noticeable in men than in women; the laryngeal prominence.
Where does adam's apple come from?: Calque of Latin pomum Adami, which is found in the botanical sense from 1560 and the anatomical sense from 1600. According to the earliest sources, the anatomical usage derives from a common belief that Adam was punished by God for the fall of man by having a piece of the forbidden fruit lodged in his throat (see 1662 citation).

How to pronounce adam's apple

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “adam's apple”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “adam's apple”.
Repeat and practice — Say “adam's apple” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.