tree

noun

\ ˈtrē

Definition of tree

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : a woody perennial plant having a single usually elongate main stem generally with few or no branches on its lower part

b : a shrub or herb of arborescent form rose trees a banana tree

2 : something in the form of or resembling a tree: such as

a : a diagram or graph that branches usually from a simple stem or vertex without forming loops or polygons a genealogical tree phylogenetic trees

b : a much-branched system of channels especially in an animal body the vascular tree

3a(1) : a piece of wood (such as a post or pole) usually adapted to a particular use or forming part of a structure or implement

(2) archaic : the cross on which Jesus was crucified

b archaic : gallows

4 : saddletree

tree

verb

treed; treeing

Definition of tree (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to drive to or up a tree treed by a bull dogs treeing game

b : to put into a position of extreme disadvantage : corner especially : to bring to bay

2 : to furnish or fit (a shoe) with a tree

Tree

biographical name

\ ˈtrē

Definition of Tree (Entry 3 of 3)

Sir Herbert (Draper) Beerbohm 1853–1917 English actor-manager

Other Words from tree More Example Sentences Learn More about tree

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Examples of tree in a Sentence

Noun

He chopped down the tree.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

While experts disagree on the exact quantities of greenhouse gas that planting new trees would keep out of the atmosphere, there’s a scientific consensus that continuing current rates of deforestation will accelerate planetary warming. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "‘Flight shaming’ could help unleash billions in airline cash to protect the Amazon and other tropical forests," 15 Sep. 2019 The details of Nestlé's plan to reach 'net zero'—which uses offsetting methods, like planting trees, to cancel out remaining emissions—will be nailed down over the next two years. — Katherine Dunn, Fortune, "Nestlé, World’s Largest Food Supplier, Aims to Eliminate All Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 2050," 12 Sep. 2019 This page on katsura from Oregon State University Landscape Plants indicates supplemental summer water is recommended for your trees. — oregonlive, "Blueberries must be pruned every year to keep them strong: Ask an expert," 11 Sep. 2019 Christmas is a time that's filled with glee, so look for your prize under your tree! — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "This is The Best Christmas Scavenger Hunt For the Holidays," 11 Sep. 2019 However, when their 10-year-old tree grew a grapefruit the size of a basketball and the weight of a newborn, world records were broken. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, "A Louisiana Couple Just Set Two Guinness World Records With One Massive Grapefruit," 9 Sep. 2019 All were men in Florida or North Carolina who died in falls or by electrocution while trimming trees, putting up storm shutters or otherwise getting ready for the hurricane. — Fox News, "Hurricane Dorian sets sights on Canada after 'biblical' flooding in North Carolina," 8 Sep. 2019 Dorian had hit near the city of Halifax Saturday afternoon, ripping roofs off apartment buildings, toppling a huge construction crane and uprooting trees. — Rob Gillies, Twin Cities, "Dorian lashes east Canada, then weakens heading out to sea," 8 Sep. 2019 Four were men in Florida or North Carolina who died in falls or by electrocution while trimming trees, putting up storm shutters or otherwise getting ready for the hurricane. — Lisa J. Huriash, sun-sentinel.com, "Dorian makes landfall in Canada with hurricane-force winds," 8 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The substance, originally tree sap, is collected by bees that combine it with their own saliva and beeswax, turning it into propolis. — Christina Butan, PEOPLE.com, "Kylie Jenner Uses This $14 Throat Spray To Fight Off Colds — and It’s on Amazon," 3 Sep. 2019 Bipedalism set our ancestors apart from the apes, enabling ancient hominins to take advantage of a wider range of habitats than those available to tree climbers. — Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian, "A 3.8-Million-Year-Old Skull Puts a New Face on a Little-Known Human Ancestor," 29 Aug. 2019 Another patient, an elderly woman, was allergic to tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen. — Lucas Joel, Quartz, "Detroit accidentally caused a pollen crisis by bulldozing the city’s abandoned areas," 15 Aug. 2019 The nonprofit organization also devotes resources to tree planting, replacing asphalt lots with greenspaces, protecting the larger watershed, and improving habitat for fish and other native fauna. — cleveland.com, "Upcoming workshops help large landowners control invasive plants without chemicals," 1 Aug. 2019 McMurray was severely allergic to tree nuts, which make up a majority of granola bars and protein snacks, and O’Kane is a vegetarian. — Deanna Weniger, Twin Cities, "St. Paul team swims and paddles Boundary Waters in mine protest," 27 July 2019 The revelation that dogs could be trained to find scat occurred to him during a conversation with a hunter who used tracking dogs to tree bears. — Sandi Doughton, The Seattle Times, "Sam Wasser pours his intense passion for protecting wildlife into research and catching poachers," 21 May 2019 Launched from forests, from mounts tied to tree trunks the Natter could be dispersed and hidden in locations where the Allies wouldn’t possibly think interceptors might rise to meet them. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Meet 'The Natter,' Nazi Germany's Wooden Rocket Plane," 19 June 2019 The grant has a matching requirement, Scott said, which means the village must also contribute $15,000 to tree replanting efforts. — Mary Mcintyre, Lake County News-Sun, "After beetle wiped out 20% of parkway trees in Winthrop Harbor, federal grant will help restock the village," 14 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tree.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.