sycamore

noun

syc·a·more | \ ˈsi-kə-ˌmȯr

Definition of sycamore

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

There are beloved spices such as cinnamon and cardamom, the predecessors of common trees such as sycamores and maples, and more unusual specimens, too. — Erin Blakemore, Washington Post, "These seeds will captivate you whether you’re a gardener or not," 22 Apr. 2018 Though the water at Leo Carrillo is accommodating for any type of visitor, the best part is the beach’s campground shaded by giant sycamore trees. — Maxwell Williams, Condé Nast Traveler, "13 Best Beaches in Los Angeles," 28 Feb. 2018 On sycamores, the disease often infects branches, causing girdling cankers and dieback. — Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Fungal diseases may be cause of brown spots on tree leaves," 26 June 2018 On April 16, hail in the greater Sacramento area ripped through fresh spring foliage on sycamores and other shade trees that had already leaved out. — Debbie Arrington, sacbee, "How to keep your trees happy after hail and drought | The Sacramento Bee," 28 Apr. 2018 The river side is forested with cottonwoods, black walnut, willow, valley oak and sycamore trees. — Allen Pierleoni, sacbee, "Where to go for fun and food along Sacramento's Garden Highway," 18 May 2018 Several paths lead to the water, guarded by cottonwood, Arizona sycamore and bigtooth maple. — Roger Naylor, azcentral, "10 best hikes in Arizona show off state's diverse scenery," 13 July 2018 The square is filled with floral beds and sycamore trees; the ideal place to amble, and enjoy live music. — Katarina Kovac, Vogue, "Where to Go in Croatia’s Capital City of Zagreb," 11 July 2018 The interior of the door is a sycamore-walnut veneer and the seats are covered in diamond-quilted, semi-aniline leather all sourced from a single, century-old tannery (presumably from cows that were lovingly killed). — Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, "Got $360K burning a hole in your pocket? Check out the Range Rover SV Coupe," 16 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sycamore.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for sycamore

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