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Glite Dictionary
Acer saccharinum

Acer saccharinum

8.2
A North American maple tree with five-lobed leaves green above and silvery white below
  • noun
  • /ˈeɪsər ˌsæˈkɛrɪnəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : arce plateado
  • Leaves of the Acer saccharinum are easily recognized by their silvery undersides.

Examples

  • The wood of Acer saccharinum is often used for furniture and musical instruments, despite being somewhat brittle.

  • The fast growth of the Acer saccharinum makes it popular for urban landscaping.

  • The Acer saccharinum is often found near rivers.

  • Have you seen the Acer saccharinum in bloom?

  • The Acer saccharinum, known for its distinctive silvery leaves, is often used in parks and gardens.

  • Cities appreciate the Acer saccharinum for its rapid growth and shade provision in urban areas.

  • Many homeowners choose the Acer saccharinum for its beautiful foliage and resilience to environmental stress.

Synonyms

silver maple
vsAcer saccharinum
  • US
1 5.1

A North American tree that grows fast and has light green leaves white underneath

focuses on ornamental appearance more than on brittle wood

Surface Forms

Acer saccharinum singular
Acer saccharini plural

Morphology

Acer + saccharinum

As a Latin binomial, a learner who knows 'Acer' can transparently infer this is a species in the maple genus (i.e. a kind of tree), so the genus-level information is compositional. However 'saccharinum' is not a recognisable English word and does not transparently convey the specific meaning 'silver maple' to an average B1 learner, so the precise species identity is not predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Acer saccharinum is a Latin plant name made of Acer ('maple') and saccharinum ('sugar'). One popular idea is that early plant experts used 'saccharinum' because the tree's sap seemed sweet, so the name points to this type of maple we now call the silver maple.