maize

noun

ˈmāz 

: a tall annual cereal grass (Zea mays) originally domesticated in Mexico and widely grown for its large elongated ears of starchy seeds : corn entry 1 sense 4

Along with maize, their main food, the ancient Maya planted squash, beans, peppers, cacao, and other plants, all of which they used for food or medicinal purposes.

—Evelyn Dana Feld

But evidence has been elusive, because the standard macrofossils—say, squash rinds or maize kernels—quickly rot in the sultry climate.

—Kathryn Brown

Examples of maize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ancient pollen grains found inside the holes point to the presence of crops such as maize, as well as wild plants including reeds and willow that have traditionally been used to make baskets, Bongers noted. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025

Zvada's boot capped a 50-yard drive and set off a celebration on the field and in the stands, where a large part of the crowd wore maize and blue. —CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025

That's a disease of wheat, barley, maize and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. —Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 13 Nov. 2025

Three people in Haiti have been killed as a result of the storm, which wiped out nearly 40 acres of maize. —Solcyré Burga, Time, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish maíz, from Taino mahiz

First Known Use

circa 1544, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for maize

• baize
• bays
• blase
• blaze
• braes
• braze
• chaise
• claes
• clays
• craze
• dais
• days

Kids Definition

maize

noun

ˈmāz 

1

: corn entry 1 sense 1

2

corn entry 1 sense 2

3

corn entry 1 sense 3