Japanese maple

noun

: a maple (Acer palmatum) of Japan, China, and Korea with purple flowers and usually deeply parted leaves that is widely cultivated as a shrub or small tree

Examples of Japanese maple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Take a wedding in Kyoto which included an abundance of pampas grass, or a New York City affair at the Rainbow Room where the couple said their vows under an arch of moody Japanese maple leaves. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2024

That could be a droplet of water clinging to a rose petal; the afternoon light dancing along your bedroom’s walls; the Japanese maple slowly shedding its leaves in your yard, sprinkling the earth with fiery red confetti—each scene a striking little miracle. —Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 8 Oct. 2024

The heyday of the brand included the ‘70s and ‘80s—Tom Cruise’s Risky Business character wore Boast and its Japanese maple leaf logo. —Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

Here, the sugar maples, red maples, gum trees, and hickory trees show off their autumn colors; they’re also complemented by ferns, Japanese maples, and woody shrubs in the gardens, creating one of Asheville’s most spectacular sights. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Japanese maple

noun

: a maple native to Japan, China, and Korea with usually green, red, or purplish leaves