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noun

samara

SA-muh-ruh

Samara (noun) means a dry, winged fruit that does not split open, found on trees such as the ash, elm, and maple. Example: “Kids love catching maple samaras as they spin down like tiny helicopters.”

noun
1
A dry, winged fruit that does not split open, found on trees such as the ash, elm, and maple.
"Kids love catching maple samaras as they spin down like tiny helicopters."
"The elm's samaras littered the pavement in a thin papery drift."

How to use samara

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe papery, winged seed pod that spins and helicopters down from certain trees.

Memory tip

Think of the "helicopter seeds" that fall from maple trees — that spinning wing is a samara.

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Common pairings
maple samara winged samara

Word forms

samaras plural, samarae plural

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Kids love catching maple _____ as they spin down like tiny helicopters.

Etymology

From Latin samara ("elm seed"), traced back to a Gaulish word related to a Celtic root for "summer."

Origin: Latin

key key fruit

Related words

Rhymes for samara

See all rhymes for samara →

Frequently asked questions

What does “samara” mean?

The word “samara” means a dry, winged fruit that does not split open, found on trees such as the ash, elm, and maple. In plain terms, the papery, winged seed pod that spins and helicopters down from certain trees.

How do you pronounce “samara”?

“Samara” is pronounced SA-muh-ruh (/ˈsæmərə/ in IPA).

How do you use “samara” in a sentence?

Here is “samara” used in a sentence: “Kids love catching maple samaras as they spin down like tiny helicopters.”

What part of speech is “samara”?

“Samara” is a noun.

Where does the word “samara” come from?

The word “samara” comes from Latin. From Latin samara ("elm seed"), traced back to a Gaulish word related to a Celtic root for "summer.".

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial