maize

noun

: a tall annual cereal grass (Zea mays) originally domesticated in Mexico and widely grown for its large elongated ears of starchy seeds : corn entry 1 sense 4
Along with maize, their main food, the ancient Maya planted squash, beans, peppers, cacao, and other plants, all of which they used for food or medicinal purposes.Evelyn Dana Feld
But evidence has been elusive, because the standard macrofossils—say, squash rinds or maize kernels—quickly rot in the sultry climate.Kathryn Brown

Examples of maize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Around $54,000 of raw cashews, kola nuts, and maize were traded in the first 10 minutes of launch, RFI reported. Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 4 June 2025 Around 1,125 to 1,200 years ago, pollen from crops such as maize and opportunistic herbs surged, at the same time tree pollen dropped, reflecting widespread deforestation. Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe, The Conversation, 20 May 2025 Higher levels of carbon dioxide can reduce levels of zinc, iron, and protein in wheat, rice, and maize, which could lead to 100 million more people becoming protein-deficient and 200 million more zinc-deficient by 2050. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 20 May 2025 The list took in the Rosetta Stone, the Sutton Hoo helmet from Anglo-Saxon Britain, and a Maya maize god statue dating to 3500 B.C., and each object was accompanied by a 14-minute story about its place in the arc of civilization. Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for maize

Word History

Etymology

Spanish maíz, from Taino mahiz

First Known Use

circa 1544, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of maize was circa 1544

Cite this Entry

“Maize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maize. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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