What does sycamore mean?
Sycamore is the common name of several large deciduous trees, especially members of the maple family. In Britain, it usually refers to Acer pseudoplatanus, the European sycamore maple, which has broad, five-lobed leaves and can grow into a substantial street or park tree. In North America, the same name generally identifies the silver maple, Acer saccharinum, although regional usage varies and “American sycamore” may refer instead to the unrelated but similarly named American plane tree. The word can also denote the wood of a sycamore. Sycamore is valued for its broad shade, distinctive foliage, and attractive pale timber. Its regional ambiguity makes the term potentially confusing in botanical, horticultural, and North American contexts, but it remains an established and familiar name rather than a specialized botanical label.
nounA maple tree with broad, lobed leaves, especially the European sycamore maple. In North American usage, the name commonly refers to the silver maple, though regional and botanical usage varies.
- A maple tree, especially Acer pseudoplatanus in British usage or Acer saccharinum in North American usage.
- The wood of a sycamore tree.
"A pair of mature sycamores cast welcome shade over the village green."
"Sycamore leaves have turned a deep bronze along the avenue."
"The pale sycamore cabinet was sanded and refinished by the restorer."
Used when referring to multiple sycamore trees; when naming the wood, the mass noun “sycamore” is normally used.
"Several sycamores survived the storm with only minor damage."
A sycamore is a maple wearing several regional names: British speakers usually mean the European sycamore maple, while North Americans usually mean the silver maple.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sycamore come from?
The word comes through Latin from Greek sykomoros, an ancient compound associated with the fig-mulberry tree and formed from elements meaning “fig” and “mulberry.” English borrowed the name through medieval and early modern European usage, with spellings such as sycomore and sycamine before sycamore became established. The name was later applied to maples whose leaves and overall appearance recalled trees already associated with the older name.
How sycamore is actually used
In British English, the name ordinarily denotes Acer pseudoplatanus, also called the great maple. In North American English it most often denotes Acer saccharinum, the silver maple; “American sycamore” can also refer to a different tree genus, Platanus, so the botanical identification should be checked when precision matters.
Easily confused with sycamore
Sycamore is a member of the maple genus, but common usage assigns the name to particular species rather than to maples generally.