sycamore

[sik-uh-mawr, -mohr]

noun

1. Also called buttonwood. any of several North American plane trees, especially Platanus occidentalis, having shallowly lobed ovate leaves, globular seed heads, and wood valued as timber.

2. British.,  the sycamore maple.

3. a tree, Ficus sycomorus, of the Middle East, related to the common fig, bearing an edible fruit.

sycamore

/ ˈsɪkəˌmɔː /

noun

1. a Eurasian maple tree, Acer pseudoplatanus, naturalized in Britain and North America, having five-lobed leaves, yellow flowers, and two-winged fruits

2. an American plane tree, Platanus occidentalis See plane tree

3. Also: sycomore. a moraceous tree, Ficus sycomorus, of N Africa and W Asia, having an edible figlike fruit

Word History and Origins

Origin of sycamore¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sicomore, from Old French from Latin sȳcomorus from Greek sȳkómoros, equivalent to sŷko ( n ) “fig” + mór ( on ) “mulberry” + -os noun suffix, apparently by folk etymology from Semitic; compare Hebrew shiqmāh “sycamore”

Word History and Origins

Origin of sycamore¹

C14: from Old French sicamor, from Latin sӯcomorus, from Greek sukomoros, from sukon fig + moron mulberry

Example Sentences

The gardens are designed to have more than 200 species of plants and trees, including palms, oaks, sycamores, succulents and olives.

From Los Angeles Times

There are no protections to prevent healthy deodar cedars, sycamores or pines from being ripped down, as there are in Pasadena.

From Los Angeles Times

For centuries, a six-story-tall sycamore stood near this slice of land and saw empires come and go.

From Los Angeles Times

Inside the fence surrounding the remains of the sycamore, several green shoots are growing.

From BBC

After all, the proposed new measures might not have saved the famous sycamore: its felling involved trespass onto land owned by the Northumberland National Park.

From BBC