maize

[ meyz ]

/ meɪz /

noun

(chiefly in British and technical usage) corn¹(def 1).

a pale yellow resembling the color of corn.

Nearby words

maistre, maitland, maitland, frederic william, maitre d', maitreya, maize, maj., maj. gen., majestic, majesty, majlis

Origin of maize

1545–55; < Spanish maíz < Hispaniolan Taino mahís

Can be confused

maize maze

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for maize

Duarte owns a small plot of land where she grazes cattle and grows beans, maize, bananas, and oranges.
China’s Nicaragua Canal Could Spark a New Central America Revolution|Nina Lakhani|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The macas, and maize, and a fresh steak from the wild bull, enabled them to make a most excellent supper.
The Forest Exiles|Mayne Reid
So, as yesterday, the horses had to stand tied together, and the nose-bags of barley and maize were strapped round their necks.
Trans-Himalaya, Vol. 1 (of 2)|Sven Hedin
The young braves from the Maize clan were ungraciously received below.
The Delight Makers|Adolf Bandelier

The travellers found a fire ready lighted, upon which was cooking the quarter of a doe, camotes and maize tortillas.
The Pearl of the Andes|Gustave Aimard
Round them the wanderer will descry a miserable field or two, planted with a stunted crop of rye, millet, or maize.
Claret and Olives, from the Garonne to the Rhone|Angus B. Reach

British Dictionary definitions for maize

maize

/ (meɪz) /

noun

Also called: Indian corn

a tall annual grass, Zea mays, cultivated for its yellow edible grains, which develop on a spike
the grain of this plant, used for food, fodder, and as a source of oilUsual US and Canadian name: corn See also sweet corn

a yellow colour
(as modifier)a maize gown

Word Origin for maize

C16: from Spanish maiz, from Taino mahiz

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012