maple

A tree of the genus Acer, characterised by its usually palmate leaves and winged seeds.

Noun

  1. A tree of the genus Acer, characterised by its usually palmate leaves and winged seeds.
    • They have a large maple in their yard.
  2. Wood of such a tree, valued for its hardness and attractive appearance.
    • This table is made of maple and also has some fruitwood inlays.
  3. The flavor of such a tree's sap, or an imitation of that flavor.
    • A: Mmm, this one is strawberry! What flavor is yours? B: This one is maple! I wonder if any of them will turn out to be pineapple!

Origin

From Middle English mapel, from Old English *mapul (attested in mapultrēow and mapulder), from Proto-West Germanic *mapul. See also Old Saxon mapulder, Old High German mazaltra, mazzaltra; also Old Norse mǫpurr, Middle Low German mapeldorn, dialectal Dutch meppel, German Masseller, Maßholder; also Old English mæsen (“maple”), Old Norse mǫsurr (“maple”), German Maser (“knob, offshoot”); also German Mase (“scar”), modern Maser (“speck, measle”). More at measles.

Forms

maples

Derived

Amur maple ashleaf maple ash-leaved maple big-leaf maple bigleaf maple bigtooth maple bird's-eye maple black maple box elder maple broad-leaf maple bush maple Canadian maple Cappadocian maple chalk maple dwarf maple English maple field maple Florida maple flowering maple ground maple hard maple hedge maple Indian maple Japanese maple