maple

[mey-puhl]

noun

1. any of numerous trees or shrubs of the genus Acer, species of which are grown as shade or ornamental trees, for timber, or for sap.

2. the wood of any such tree.

3. the flavor of maple syrup or maple sugar.

4. Bowling Slang.,  pin.

maple

/ ˈmeɪpəl /

noun

1. any tree or shrub of the N temperate genus Acer, having winged seeds borne in pairs and lobed leaves: family Aceraceae

2. the hard close-grained wood of any of these trees, used for furniture and flooring

3. the flavour of the sap of the sugar maple

Other Word Forms

• maplelike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of maple¹

before 900; Middle English mapel, Old English mapul-, in mapultrēow, mapulder maple tree, cognate with Old Saxon mapulder

Word History and Origins

Origin of maple¹

C14: from Old English mapel-, as in mapeltrēow maple tree

Example Sentences

TJ’s Maple Leaf Ice Cream Sandwiches are made in Canada by a Canadian confectioner — so you know TJ’s isn’t skimping on any maple flavorings.

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A cake decorated to look like a stack of pancakes dripping with maple syrup rested on a nearby folding table.

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The cooked toast is garnished with fresh fruit, butter, powdered sugar and maple syrup.

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For guitars, he favors swamp ash for the body — “not too dense, not too thin” — and curly maple for the necks.

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Lime and maple pull in opposite directions — tart and lush — and the squash just hangs in the middle, like it’s always belonged there.

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