sycamore

American  

[sik-uh-mawr, -mohr] / ˈsɪk əˌmɔr, -ˌmoʊr /

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.

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sycamore British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of sycamore

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”

Example Sentences

On the far side, among sycamore trees, rose a white church steeple.

From Literature

It was an evening to inspire songs in praise of Indiana, of moonlight fair along the Wabash and the breath of new-mown hay from the fields and candlelight gleaming through sycamores.

From Literature

In the shallows, two girls in buckskin tunics giggled as they rinsed the boar’s guts, while three small children solemnly made mud-cakes and studded them with sycamore wings.

From Literature

He previously lived for years in San Diego County, where he ran along waterways teeming with birds among reeds, willows and sycamores.

From Los Angeles Times

Her hair was the color of sycamore leaves after the first frost.

From Literature