maple

noun

ma·​ple ˈmā-pəl How to pronounce maple (audio)
: any of a genus (Acer of the family Sapindaceae, the soapberry 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The trees would all be maples, a favorite of the president’s. — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 28 June 2026 For light wood floors, such as oak or maple, designers suggest leaning into warm, earthy shades. — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026 In the morning, order the Michigan maple pancakes. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026 These complement the bourbon’s core vanilla, maple, and oak notes instead of washing them out. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for maple

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of maple was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing maple

Rhymes for maple

See All Rhymes for maple

Browse Nearby Words

map crack
maple
maple bladder-gall mite
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maple. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

maple

noun
ma·​ple ˈmā-pəl How to pronounce maple (audio)
: any of a group of trees having deeply notched opposite leaves, dry fruits with two wings, and hard light-colored wood and including some from which maple syrup and maple sugar are obtained
also : the wood of a maple

More from Merriam-Webster on maple

Nglish: Translation of maple for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about maple

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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