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

Some shouted and danced; others raced to the market immediately to buy maize. —Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Apr. 2025

The team's analysis revealed that maize was a common component of the human diet for all of the sampled individuals. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024

According to a 2017 study of El Gigante, maize was domesticated in Honduras 4,300 years ago. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Mar. 2025

Fishermen on the coasts had pawned their nets for money to buy maize. —Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 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