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

Collaboration will be key to safeguarding the future of sugar maples and their deep historical roots. —Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 28 Mar. 2025

Otherwise, don your cross-country skis, snowshoes or boots (with crampons) and enjoy cruising or ambling along the almost seven-mile Lac-Brome Path that’s lined in places with a variety of trees such as fir, larch, white cedar and sugar maple. —Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

His winning ribs were from Wichita Packing Co. in Chicago and cooked with sugar maple, cherry and apple wood. —Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025

Higher temperatures are facilitating the range expansion of sugar maple pests and pathogens. —Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 28 Mar. 2025

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