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

In my Connecticut backyard, I’ve been reclaiming the turf under my maples and birches by planting native ferns, geraniums and woodland asters.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Both men repeatedly joked about tariffs in the video, with Ford pledging to send Newsom a can of maple syrup if the LA Dodgers win.

Read more on BBC

Think clusters of honeyed oats, a handful of nuts, a whisper of cinnamon or maple, a pinch of sea salt.

Read more on Salon

The sun was bright, the temperatures hovered in the upper-60s, and leaves of maple, oak, aspen and ginkgo trees colored the city with splashes of yellow, orange and red.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Michael Doten, who owns a sugarhouse and farm nearby, is among the supporters—even if fewer visitors means less maple syrup sales.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal