maple

noun

1. 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

   Russian maple

   They have a large maple in their yard.

   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; […]

2. 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.

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

   Queensland maple

5. 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.

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

   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. 6

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

7. 7

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

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

8. 8

   Variant of maple peaShort for maple pea (“the field pea (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense) which has brown, speckled seeds used dry rather than fresh; a seed of this plant”).

adjective

1. 1

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

2. 2

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

noun

1. 1

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

   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.

Forms

plural

maples