sugar maple

noun

1

: a maple (Acer saccharum) of eastern North America with 3- to 5-lobed leaves, hard close-grained wood much used for cabinetwork, and sap that is the chief source of maple syrup and maple sugar

called also rock maple, hard maple

2

: any of several maples (especially Acer nigrum and A. grandidentatum) often considered subspecies of the sugar maple

Examples of sugar maple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Maple trees include sugar maple and red maple, with sugar maples turning bright red and red maples going from vivid red to orange to bright yellow. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 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

Still, the researchers identified significant variance among the species: Black cherry, red maple and white ash tended to experience peak coloration earlier, while oaks and sugar maples blazed later. —Benjamin Cassidy, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Oct. 2024

Here are the top destinations for 2024: Vermont: Known for its vast forests of sugar maples, Vermont is perhaps the most famous state for fall foliage. —Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sugar maple

noun

: a maple tree of eastern North America with hard wood that is much used for cabinetwork and sap that is the chief source of maple syrup and maple sugar