sycamore

Etymology

Circa 1350, from Old French sicamor, from Latin sȳcomorus, from Ancient Greek σῡκόμορος (sūkómoros, “fig-mulberry”), from σῦκον (sûkon, “fig”) + μόρον (móron, “mulberry”). Possibly influenced by Hebrew שִׁקְמָה‎ (shikmá, “mulberry”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪkəmɔɹ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɪkəmɔː/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: syc‧a‧more

Noun

sycamore (countable and uncountable, plural sycamores)

1. (US) Any of several North American plane trees, of the genus Platanus, especially Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore).
2. (Britain) A large British and European species of maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, known in North America as the sycamore maple.
3. A large tree bearing edible fruit, Ficus sycomorus, allied to the common fig and found in Egypt and Syria; also called the sycamore fig or the fig-mulberry; the Biblical sycomore.

Further reading

• sycamore in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• sycamore in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• sycamore at OneLook Dictionary Search