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. Compare maple family.
2. the wood of any such tree.
3. the flavor of maple syrup or maple sugar.
4. Bowling Slang. pin ( def 12 ).

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 Words From

• maple·like 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

Authorities said the incident started around 7:30 a.m., when the Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for service at the courthouse on Maple Avenue, a few hundred feet from both the Torrance Police Department and Torrance City Hall.

From Los Angeles Times

Alongside is a sidecar of vanilla-tonka bean maple syrup, heady with the almond-y, fresh-hay scent of coumarin — a naturally occurring chemical in the seeds of the kumaru tree.

From Los Angeles Times

Well-known trees such as magnolias are among the most threatened, with oaks, maple and ebonies also at risk.

From BBC

You’ll find a walnut wood butcher-block island in the kitchen measuring 5-by-5 feet, made of 1,500 pieces, along with cutting boards made from upcycled maple guitar necks, a reclaimed walnut credenza in the living room and handmade wooden light switch covers in the bathroom.

From Los Angeles Times

“If there were leftover pieces, we’d stack them up and burn them as firewood. So I started collecting these small pieces of mahogany, rosewood and maple, and you scratch your head and realize, ‘Oh, can I make something with this?’

From Los Angeles Times