maize

noun

ˈmāz 

: 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

Fishermen on the coasts had pawned their nets for money to buy maize. —Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025

The text’s attention to ingredients such as pumpkin, maize, and hominy is a reminder of how much the early settlers’ cuisine relied on Native American food and cooking techniques. —H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 14 Feb. 2025

Meanwhile, a study from NASA suggests maize crop yields could be down by 24% by 2030 due to climate change. —Valeria Kogan, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Velazquez’s maize and blue gear is boxed up — a safe middle ground between hanging shirts in his closet and disposing of them. —Matt Baker, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish maíz, from Taino mahiz

First Known Use

circa 1544, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for maize

• baize
• bays
• blase
• blaze
• braes
• braze
• chaise
• claes
• clays
• craze
• dais
• days

Kids Definition

maize

noun

ˈmāz 

1

: corn entry 1 sense 1

2

corn entry 1 sense 2

3

corn entry 1 sense 3