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. Alsosycomore 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 famous sycamore was cut down overnight between September 27 and 28 last year, sparking national outrage.

From BBC

Five species are available: Western sycamore, Chinese flame tree, California pepper, pink trumpet tree and pink dawn chitalpa.

From Los Angeles Times

Eventually, he settled on the eight most frequently mentioned: desert dates, Yemeni Sidr honey, sycamore figs, Israeli golden raisins, prickly juniper berries, carob fruit, black cumin and frankincense.

From New York Times

The sycamore’s majestic canopy between two hills made it a popular subject for landscape photographers.

From Seattle Times

But a day or two later, we learned that it is rather difficult — and also, illegal — to cut down a very old, still-alive sycamore, oak, California bay or black walnut in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times