# maple

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmeɪpəl/ · frequency rank #8,822

## Definitions
1. A tree of the genus Acer, characterised by its usually palmate leaves and winged seeds.
2. Wood of such a tree, valued for its hardness and attractive appearance.
3. The flavor of such a tree's sap, or an imitation of that flavor.

## Etymology
From Middle English mapel, from Old English *mapul (attested in mapultrēow and mapulder), from Proto-West Germanic *mapul.
See also Old Saxon mapulder, Old High German mazaltra, mazzaltra; also Old Norse mǫpurr, Middle Low German mapeldorn, dialectal Dutch meppel, German Masseller, Maßholder; also Old English mæsen (“maple”), Old Norse mǫsurr (“maple”), German Maser (“knob, offshoot”); also German Mase (“scar”), modern Maser (“speck, measle”). More at measles.

## Easily confused with
- **mile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-mile)
- **mate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-mate)
- **maps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-maps)
- **mole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-mole)
- **maze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-maze)
- **mare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-mare)
- **mule** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-mule)
- **maul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-maul)
- **marl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-marl)
- **maybe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-maybe)
- **Marie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-marie)
- **matte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-matte)
- **marge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-marge)
- **Maude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-maude)
- **merle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-merle)
- **mayne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-mayne)
- **mille** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-mille)
- **Marla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-marla)
- **mauve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-mauve)
- **Marne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maple-vs-marne)

## Common misspellings (6)
`malpe`, `mapel`, `maplle`, `mapple`, `mmaple`, `mpale`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/maple