maple

Everyday

1. A maple is a tree with leaves that have pointed parts like fingers; the leaves turn red, orange or yellow in autumn. tree →
2. Maple is the hard wood of this tree. tree →
3. Maple syrup is a sweet syrup made from the sap of some maple trees. tree →

In the lessons

The maple leaf is the symbol on the flag of Canada. In science, maple seeds have wings and spin like helicopters as they fall. In everyday life, people pour maple syrup on pancakes. Phrases: "maple leaf", "maple syrup", "sugar maple".

Examples

• The maple leaves turned bright red in autumn. tree →
• We had pancakes with maple syrup. tree →
• The Canadian flag has a red maple leaf. tree →
• Maple seeds spin as they fall to the ground. tree →
• The table is made of maple. tree →
• Farmers collect sap from maple trees in early spring. tree →
• A big maple shades our garden. tree →
• Looking to the west the autumn maples were ablaze like a sunset sky, and the chrysanthemums were in perfection. tree →

Note

Countable for trees (two maples), uncountable for the wood. Real maple syrup comes from boiled sap; much "pancake syrup" is only flavoured sugar.