maple
/ˈmeɪp(ə)l
/noun
A tree or shrub with lobed leaves, winged fruits, and colourful autumn foliage, grown as an ornamental or for its timber or syrupy sap.
- Genus Acer, family Aceraceae: many species, including the common European field maple (A. campestre) and the North American sugar maple (A. saccharum).
- Sugar maples, red maples, dogwood, sweet gum, black gum and sourwood can be brilliant red or yellow.
- Among the others are tanoaks, California black oaks, Shreve's oaks, madrones, rhododendrons, manzanita, big leaf maples and bay laurels.
Origin
Old English mapel (as the first element of mapeltrēow, mapulder 'maple tree'); used as an independent word from Middle English.