mad apple n 1: hairy upright herb native to southeastern Asia but widely cultivated for its large glossy edible fruit commonly used as a vegetable [syn: {eggplant}, {aubergine}, {brinjal}, {eggplant bush}, {garden egg}, {Solanum melongena}] 2: egg-shaped vegetable having a shiny skin typically dark purple but occasionally white or yellow [syn: {eggplant}, {aubergine}]