sapling

Everyday

1. A young tree with a thin trunk. tree →
2. (literary) A young person, especially a slim young man. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature lessons saplings grow from seeds and become trees; schools plant saplings on tree-planting days. In stories a sapling stands for youth and new life. Phrases: «plant a sapling», «oak sapling».

Examples

• We planted an oak sapling in the school garden. tree →
• The sapling was tied to a stick so the wind would not bend it. tree →
• Deer eat the bark of young saplings. tree →
• In ten years the sapling will be a big tree. tree →
• The storm snapped the little sapling. tree →
• Each class planted a sapling for Arbor Day. tree →
• ‘When first I came hither,’ said he, ‘the plain was bare save for one oak sapling, which grew up to be an oak with a hundred branches. tree →

Note

Countable: saplings. Smaller than a tree, bigger than a seedling. In maths problems: if 30 saplings are planted in 5 equal rows, there are 6 in each row.

In Jewish tradition

Isaiah says God's servant grows like a weak young plant from dry ground, with no looks to attract anyone.

Interpretation. Jewish tradition often reads this servant as the people Israel, humble and despised, and some medieval writers took it as the Messiah.

Examples

• For he shot up right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness, that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should delight in him. (Prophets ISA.53.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: saplings. Smaller than a tree, bigger than a seedling. In maths problems: if 30 saplings are planted in 5 equal rows, there are 6 in each row.