maple

noun
ma·​ple | \ ˈmā-pəl How to pronounce maple (audio) \

Definition of maple

: any of a genus (Acer of the family Aceraceae, the maple family) of chiefly deciduous trees or shrubs with opposite leaves and a fruit of two united samaras also : the hard light-colored close-grained wood of a maple used especially for flooring and furniture

Examples of maple in a Sentence

The maple leaf is an emblem of Canada. a table made of maple

Recent Examples on the Web

Little is known about its coloration, though an illustration shows a white animal with a red splotch on its back that looks a bit like a maple leaf. NBC News, "Millions of years ago, this 'frozen dragon' flying reptile as big as a fighter jet soared over Earth," 12 Sep. 2019 Hangar One Vermont Spirits makes vodka from unique sources like the sap of maple trees. Fortune, "Goodbye, Orange Creamsicle Vodka: Brands Like Absolut and Ketel One Want to Get In on the Wellness Movement," 24 Aug. 2019 Once maple leaves fall, spores from the spots can overwinter in the soil. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, "Lady Macbeth wouldn’t be happy, but maple leaf tar spot is basically harmless," 8 Aug. 2019 The Stevie Ray, with lemon, pineapple, ginger and maple, is enhanced with Angostura bitters. Leeanne Griffin, courant.com, "Shell & Bones: Unique summer cocktails, with or without booze, but always with a spectacular view," 12 July 2019 The pest is also attracted to oaks, black walnuts and maples — high-value species for the timber industry. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, "‘This is going to be a bad one’: A new pest is causing quarantines in Va. and Pa.," 26 June 2019 In childhood, treehouses are roughly built hideaways perched in large oak or maple trees where kids gather to giggle and let their imaginations run wild. Megan Barber, Curbed, "12 magical treehouses for your next vacation," 20 June 2019 My favorite blend consists of hardwoods like oak and maple with a little pine sawdust thrown in for consistency. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "Waste Not: 6 Things You Can Do With Sawdust and Wood Shavings," 20 Nov. 2018 Vintage French doors, clerestory windows and travertine stone and maple floors are among details of note. Neal J. Leitereg, latimes.com, "Former Beverly Hills home of Marion Davies and Tyra Banks seeks $7.7 million," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maple.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of maple

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for maple

Middle English, from Old English mapul-; akin to Old Norse mǫpurr maple

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More Definitions for maple

maple

noun

English Language Learners Definition of maple

: a type of tree that grows in northern parts of the world and has hard wood often used in making furniture
: the wood of a maple tree

maple

noun
ma·​ple | \ ˈmā-pəl How to pronounce maple (audio) \

Kids Definition of maple

: a tree having deeply notched leaves, seeds with a winglike part, and hard pale wood and including some whose sap is evaporated to a sweet syrup ( maple syrup ) and a brownish sugar ( maple sugar )

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