maple family: Meaning and Definition of

ma'ple fam"ily

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. the plant family Aceraceae, typified by trees and shrubs having sweet sap, simple opposite leaves usually lobed or toothed, clusters of small flowers, and fruit in the form of a double-winged nutlet, and including maples and the box elder.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.