sycamore

Everyday

1. (UK, Ireland) A large maple tree with five-pointed leaves and winged seeds that spin like helicopters as they fall. tree →
2. (USA, Canada) A tall plane tree with bark that peels off in patches of white, green and brown. tree →
3. (Bible) A kind of fig tree in the Middle East; in the story of Zacchaeus, a short man climbs a sycamore to see Jesus. tree →
4. The pale wood of these trees, used for furniture and kitchen spoons. tree →

In the lessons

In nature lessons the sycamore is the tree whose «helicopter» seeds children throw in the air to watch them twirl; this shows how seeds are spread by the wind. In Bible lessons Zacchaeus climbs a sycamore (sycomore) fig tree. The same name means different trees in Britain and in North America, so the place matters. Phrases: «sycamore seeds», «sycamore helicopters».

Examples

• We threw sycamore seeds from the bridge and watched them spin down. tree →
• The sycamore in the playground gives lots of shade in summer. tree →
• In autumn the sycamore leaves turn yellow and fall. tree →
• The sycamores along the river in Ohio have white, patchy bark. tree →
• Zacchaeus was too short to see over the crowd, so he climbed a sycamore tree. tree →
• My wooden spoon is made of sycamore. tree →
• Seeds with wings, like the sycamore's, can travel far from the parent tree. tree →

Note

Countable for trees (a sycamore, two sycamores), uncountable for the wood. In the Bible the old spelling «sycomore» is sometimes used for the fig tree. Do not mix up with «sick» or «more»: it is one word, SIK-uh-more.

In Jewish tradition

In the Land of Israel it is a fig tree with sweet fruit and soft wood, common in the lowlands.

Interpretation. Tradition notes that it was a common tree, so cedar was far better for building. Isaiah's boast about replacing sycamores with cedars shows pride.

Examples

• He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore-trees with frost. (Writings PSA.78.47, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but cedars will we put in their place.' (Prophets ISA.9.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore-trees that are in the Lowland, for abundance. (Prophets 1KI.10.27, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable for trees (a sycamore, two sycamores), uncountable for the wood. In the Bible the old spelling «sycomore» is sometimes used for the fig tree. Do not mix up with «sick» or «more»: it is one word, SIK-uh-more.