A labyrinth; a puzzle consisting of a complicated network of paths or passages, the aim of which is to find one's way through.
"The children spent hours trying to solve the paper maze printed on the back of the cereal box."
In plain English: A maze is a confusing path with many turns and dead ends that you have to find your way through.
"The garden had a real maze that made us get lost easily."
Usage: The noun "maze" refers specifically to a physical structure with confusing pathways, whereas "labyrinth" often implies a more complex or mythological design. Do not use the verb form of "maze" in formal writing; instead, opt for synonyms like "bewilder," "confound," or "stun."
to amaze, astonish, bewilder
"The magician's impossible tricks completely mazed the audience, leaving them speechless and confused."
In plain English: To maze means to move around aimlessly without any clear direction or plan.
"The complex instructions made me maze through the confusing steps without finding the finish line."
A surname.
"The local historian noted that many residents in the village shared the surname Maze."
The word maze comes from Middle English masen, which originally meant "to perplex or bewilder." It is related to the concept of causing confusion rather than referring specifically to a labyrinthine structure in its earliest usage.