sycamore

noun

syc·​a·​more ˈsi-kə-ˌmȯr 

1

or less commonly sycomore

ˈsi-kə-ˌmȯr 

: a fig tree (Ficus sycomorus) of Africa and the Middle East that is the sycamore of Scripture and has edible fruit similar but inferior to the common fig

2

: a Eurasian maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) with long racemes of showy yellowish-green flowers that is widely planted as a shade tree

3

: plane entry 4

especially : a very large spreading tree (Platanus occidentalis) chiefly of the eastern and central U.S. with 3- to 5-lobed broadly ovate leaves

Examples of sycamore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Graceful Arizona sycamores shade the courtyards where shoppers stroll past splashing fountains and beds bursting with flowers. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024

Nature trails traverse the acreage peppered with century-old sycamore, beech and linden trees. —Mark David, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2024

On September 28, 2023, vandals illegally chopped down what is known as the Sycamore Gap tree, a centuries-old sycamore next to Hadrian’s Wall in England. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024

Less drought-resistant trees like maples and sycamores are most likely to be changing. —Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sikamour, sicomore, borrowed from Anglo-French sicamour, borrowed from Latin sȳcomorus, borrowed from Greek sȳkómoros "sycamore fig" (sȳkómoron "fruit of the sycamore fig"), probably alteration by folk etymology of sȳkámīnos sycamine, with the ending conformed to móron "black mulberry, blackberry" — more at mulberry

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sycamore

noun

syc·​a·​more ˈsik-ə-ˌmō(ə)r 

-ˌmȯ(ə)r

1

: a Eurasian maple with yellowish green flowers that is widely planted as a shade tree

2

: a large spreading tree of the eastern and central U.S. that has light-brown bark peeling off in thin flakes and small round brown fruits hanging on long stalks