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

Guests can opt for the privacy of an in-room massage or a creekside massage under a canopy of sycamore trees along Oak Creek. —Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 14 Oct. 2025

For the botanical gardens and open spaces, the landscape architect RIOS has curated over 200 species of California native plants and trees including palms, oaks, sycamores and succulents to be integrated throughout the gardens, according to the One Beverly Hills website. —David Moin, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025

Like, Oh my goodness, look at that sycamore tree! —Dan Heching, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025

Draping the water is a riparian forest of cottonwood, oak, Arizona sycamore, boxelder and maple. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for sycamore

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore

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