sugar maple

noun

any of several maples having a sweet sap, especially Acer saccharum (the state tree of New York, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin), having a short trunk and long, curving branches, yielding a hard wood used for making furniture and being the chief source of maple sugar.

sugar maple

a North American maple tree, Acer saccharum, that is grown as a source of sugar, which is extracted from the sap, and for its hard wood

An Americanism dating back to 1725–35

The occurrence of the sugar maple adds another element of Indian subsistence.

At last the trail lay over a slope overlooking a little cove, where there stood a large sugar-maple.

Our sugar maple is less striking and beautiful in the bud, but the flowers are more graceful and fringelike.

Frank and his brother had both heard of the famous sugar-maple, though neither of them had ever seen it.

Nothing was heard for some moments but cries of joy, mingled with the words ‘sugar’ and ‘sugar-maple.’

April 24, 2024gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse