maize

noun

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wheat, soy and maize — high value crops for a lot of the world — will be especially badly affected, the study found. Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 18 June 2025 The world’s most productive agricultural regions face the greatest losses from climate change, with major farming areas in wealthy nations potentially losing as much as 40% of their maize and wheat production this century, a comprehensive new study has found. David Vetter, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 Around $54,000 of raw cashews, kola nuts, and maize were traded in the first 10 minutes of launch, RFI reported. Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 4 June 2025 Around 1,125 to 1,200 years ago, pollen from crops such as maize and opportunistic herbs surged, at the same time tree pollen dropped, reflecting widespread deforestation. Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe, The Conversation, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for maize

Word History

Etymology

Spanish maíz, from Taino mahiz

First Known Use

circa 1544, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of maize was circa 1544

Cite this Entry

“Maize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maize. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on maize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!