n. 1 any tree or shrub of the genus Acer grown for shade, ornament, wood, or its sugar. 2 the wood of the maple. maple-leaf the leaf of the maple, used as an emblem of Canada. maple sugar a sugar produced by evaporating the sap of the sugar maple etc. maple syrup a syrup produced from the sap of the sugar maple etc.
[ ME mapul etc. f. OE mapeltreow, mapulder ]