sycamore

noun

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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 Right now, oak, beech and sycamore trees are pumping pollen into the air, but don’t expect a break when they are finished. — cleveland, 12 May 2022 The bark of the beech and the surrounding trees—sycamore, dogwood, laurel—have been polished, rubbed, and broken open by dinosaurs desperate for some form of relief. — Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Apr. 2022 The $6-million house has a bit more land, with pine, sycamore and citrus trees spread across two acres. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2022 According to the California Native Plant Society, the trail features large sycamore, oak, willow, and black walnut trees. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2022 Big sycamore trees drape the stream, with oaks and pines filling the canyon. — Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2022 Lions often climb African sycamore fig trees or umbrella acacia thorn trees, which have horizontal branches not too far above the ground. — New York Times, 4 Mar. 2022 The American sycamore is beautiful when healthy but has several pesky disease issues. — Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 19 Nov. 2020 As golfers practice their putts, Rachman spots a trio of Cassin’s kingbirds perched at the top of a tall sycamore tree. — Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2022 See More

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