sugar maple

noun

1

: a maple (Acer saccharum) of eastern North America with 3- to 5-lobed leaves, hard close-grained wood much used for cabinetwork, and sap that is the chief source of maple syrup and maple sugar

called also rock maple, hard maple

2

: any of several maples (especially Acer nigrum and A. grandidentatum) often considered subspecies of the sugar maple

Examples of sugar maple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Maybe the South doesn’t brag about its blazing fall colors (because that’s just bad manners), but Southern gardeners can enjoy autumn splendor every bit as lovely as the sugar maples in Vermont or the aspens in the Rockies. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026

Large and mid-sized trees like birch, sugar maple, and white oak offer architectural interest and a sense of heritage. — The Spruce, 8 Sep. 2026

Among the highlights are Blanford Nature Center, which offers extensive walking trails through an old-growth forest of blazing red sugar maples. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026

Warm up with Bear Wallow Distillery’s seasonal moonshine flavors, like sugar maple and apple pie. — Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sugar maple

• papal
• staple

Kids Definition

sugar maple

noun

: a maple tree of eastern North America with hard wood that is much used for cabinetwork and sap that is the chief source of maple syrup and maple sugar