noun
sapling
SAP-lihng
Sapling (noun) means a young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature. Example: “We planted a row of oak saplings along the fence.”
noun
1
A young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature.
"We planted a row of oak saplings along the fence."
"The storm snapped the thin sapling in half."
2
A young person, especially a boy approaching adulthood.
"He was just a sapling of a lad when he first joined the crew."
How to use sapling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA young, still-growing tree.
Common pairings
plant a sapling
young sapling
oak sapling
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Word forms
- Plural
- saplings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We planted a row of oak _____ along the fence.
Etymology
From Middle English "sapling," built from sap plus the diminutive suffix "-ling."
Frequently asked questions
What does “sapling” mean?
The word “sapling” means a young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature. In plain terms, a young, still-growing tree.
How do you pronounce “sapling”?
“Sapling” is pronounced SAP-lihng (/ˈsæplɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sapling” in a sentence?
Here is “sapling” used in a sentence: “We planted a row of oak saplings along the fence.”
What part of speech is “sapling”?
“Sapling” is a noun.
Where does the word “sapling” come from?
The word “sapling” comes from Middle English. From Middle English "sapling," built from sap plus the diminutive suffix "-ling.".
How many meanings does “sapling” have?
“Sapling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature.
