maple — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Any member of any species of genus Acer, characterized by (usually) palmate, five-lobed leaves and winged seeds, and often grown for syrup or wood

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Russian maple

   They have a large maple in their yard.

   More examples (2)

   The Maple [Acer] (of vvhich Authors reckon very many kinds) vvas of old held in equal eſtimation almoſt vvith the Citron; eſpecially the Bruſcum, the French-Maple, and the Peacocks-tail-Maple, vvhich is that ſort ſo elegantly undulated, and criſped into variety of curles: They are all produced of Keys, like the Aſh; […]

   In days of yore, from Britain's shore, / [John] Wolfe the dauntless hero came, / And planted firm Britannia's flag, / On Canada's fair domain. / Here may it wave, our boast, or pride, / And joined in love together, / The Thistle, Shamrock, Rose entwine / The Maple Leaf for ever! // [Chorus] The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear, / The Maple Leaf for ever! / God save our Queen, and Heaven bless / The Maple Leaf for ever!

2. Any member of any species of genus Acer, characterized by (usually) palmate, five-lobed leaves and winged seeds, and often grown for syrup or wood A small tree (Acer campestre), known as the common maple, field maple, or hedge maple, which has palmate leaves with five lobes and winged seeds, and is chiefly native to East Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Countable

   Examples

   The vvarlike Beech, the Aſh for nothing ill, / The fruitfull Oliue, and the Plataine round, / The caruer Holme, the Maple ſeeldom invvard ſound.

   More examples (1)

   The great Maple is a beautifull and high tree, vvith a barke of a meane ſmoothnes: the ſubſtance of the vvoode is tender and eaſie to vvorke on it; it ſendeth foorth on euery ſide very many goodly boughes and branches, vvhich make an excellent ſhadovv againſt the heate of the ſunne; […] There is a ſmall Maple vvhich doth oftentimes come to the bignes of a tree, but moſt commonly it grovveth lovv after the maner of a ſhrub, the barke heereof is likevviſe ſmooth; […]

3. Any member of any species of genus Acer, characterized by (usually) palmate, five-lobed leaves and winged seeds, and often grown for syrup or wood Often preceded by a descriptive word: a tree of the genus Acer; especially the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) native to North America which has brightly colored autumn foliage and is the primary source of maple syrup.

   Usage

   • Countable

4. Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: a tree of a genus other than Acer which has an appearance or wood similar to an Acer tree.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   Queensland maple

5. Wood of an Acer tree, valued for its attractive appearance and hardness; also, similar wood from a tree of a genus other than Acer; (countable) a particular type of such wood.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   This table is made of maple and also has some fruitwood inlays.

   More examples (1)

   Eager and never weary we pursued / Our home-amusements by the warm peat-fire / […] / We schemed and puzzled, head opposed to head / In strife too humble to be named in verse: / Or round the naked table, snow-white deal, / Cherry or maple, sate in close array, […]

6. The light-brown color of the wood of a maple tree (etymology 1, noun sense 3).

   Usage

   • Uncountable

7. The flavor of maple syrup made from the sap of a maple tree, or an imitation of that flavor.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   What flavour is your ice-cream? Mine’s maple—it’s delicious.

Adjective

1. Of the light-brown colour of the wood of a maple tree (etymology 1, noun sense 3).

   Usage

   • not-comparable

2. Of the flavour of, or made with, maple syrup.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

Noun

1. Synonym of mapau (“any of several trees of New Zealand, especially in the genus Myrsine”).

   Usage

   • New-Zealand
   • Archaic

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The maples – red, white and black – were there, and ribbonwood or lace bark; while rata, or 'Ironwood', so called because of its hardness, made a splash of crimson in summertime.

Noun

1. wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring

   Broader terms

   wood

2. any of numerous trees or shrubs of the genus Acer bearing winged seeds in pairs; north temperate zone

   Broader terms

   angiospermous treeflowering tree