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Glite Dictionary
scarlet maple

scarlet maple

5.1
A maple tree from eastern and central North America with five-part leaves that turn bright red and yellow in autumn
  • noun
  • /ˈskɑrlɪt ˈmeɪpəl/
  • US
translation icon : arce escarlata
  • As autumn approached, the scarlet maple transformed the landscape with its bright red foliage.

Examples

  • On this warm autumn morning, sliding doors stood open to a garden resplendent with scarlet maple leaves and a brilliant blue sky.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The scarlet maple trees in the park are known for their vibrant red leaves in the fall.

  • Many visitors come to see the stunning scarlet maple during the peak of leaf season.

Synonyms

red maple
vsscarlet maple
  • US
1 2.7

A tree with leaves that have five parts and turn bright red or yellow in autumn

is identical in meaning but uses a different common name
Acer rubrum
vsscarlet maple
  • Specialized
8.5

A North American tree with five-lobed leaves that turn red or yellow in autumn

uses scarlet rather than the more general red in autumn description
swamp maple
vsscarlet maple
  • US
6.2

A tree growing where the ground is often wet with five-lobed leaves that turn red or yellow in autumn

is the general tree without implying a swamp habitat

Surface Forms

scarlet maple singular
scarlet maples plural

Morphology

scarlet + maple

The meaning 'a maple tree that is scarlet' is directly and transparently derived from combining the color adjective 'scarlet' with the noun 'maple'. Color + noun compounds are a common, compositional pattern cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the referent.

Etymology

The name scarlet maple creates a clear image: a maple tree whose leaves turn bright scarlet, like a red cloth in 'autumn'. So the name means 'a maple tree with red fall leaves'.