maize
maize Lexical Profile
maize Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A tall cereal grass (Zea mays) originally domesticated in Mesoamerica, widely cultivated for its large grains that are set in rows on a cob.
"The indigenous communities of Mesoamerica domesticated maize thousands of years ago, transforming it into a staple crop."
The edible grains of the maize plant, consumed as food by humans or used as livestock feed.
"The farmer harvested the fields of maize to grind the kernels into a fine flour."
A pale to vibrant yellow color resembling the kernels of corn.
"The artist mixed a touch of ochre into the white to achieve a perfect shade of maize."
• adjective
Having a pale yellow color resembling the grains of corn.
"She selected a maize fabric for the curtains to bring a warm, subtle glow into the living room."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North America, 'corn' is the standard everyday term for the crop and grain, whereas 'maize' is primarily used in formal agricultural, scientific, and historical contexts.
• Rhymes for maize
Word Origin & Etymology
Mid 16th century: from Spanish 'maíz', from Taino 'mahiz'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.