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

The eldest Cambridge sibling—dressed in a sweater, blue pants, and little wellies—goofily poses on a tree branch while holding onto his dad's shoulders. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Steal the Show in the Royal Family Christmas Card," 14 Dec. 2018 Magenta bougainvillea dot the space, but tree trunks wrapped in fairy lights and a slight bite in the air hint at autumn. — Zahra Barnes, SELF, "Sarah Hyland Opens Up About Dialysis and Her Second Kidney Transplant," 10 Dec. 2018 Most spiders make more than one kind of silk, as the properties that might make a good web might not be the same as the ones that would effectively arrest a fall after a spider has leapt off a tree branch. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Researchers insert a spider web gene into the silkworm," 8 Aug. 2018 In the East Garden, guests enter under a canopy of lemon tree branches. — Jay Jones, latimes.com, "Here's what 57,000 flowers create at Vegas' Bellagio Conservatory, where love is in the air," 12 July 2018 To attract deer, hunters will sometimes cut off the bottom of a peanut butter jar and affix it to the side of a tree trunk. — Jordan Cutler-tietjen, sacbee, "Doe in distress: Auburn deer can't eat because of peanut butter jar, resident says," 10 July 2018 The Phoenix Fire Department responded just after 6 p.m. to an area of the river near Central Avenue, where the man was standing on a tree branch, spokesman Capt. — Brieanna J Frank, azcentral, "Man rescued after being stranded in Salt River," 9 July 2018 The winds can blow things like sheet metal or Mylar balloons or tree branches against the power lines. — Gary Robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Wildfires: The scourge known as the Santa Ana winds," 8 July 2018 Two people were killed and five were injured after a large tree branch fell onto spectators during a fireworks display in Illinois. — Ashley May, USA TODAY, "Two killed, five injured when large tree branch falls on spectators at fireworks show in Illinois," 5 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officers used a Karelian bear dog to track and tree the bear, Travis said. — Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, "Officials capture wandering bear in Mukilteo," 10 June 2018 Aimee Weiss, of Highland Park, said her doctor wrote a prescription for multiple packages of EpiPens for her 12-year-old daughter, who’s allergic to tree nuts. — Lisa Schencker, chicagotribune.com, "EpiPen shortage hits Illinois," 9 May 2018 Milwaukee mom Karen Kovochich, whose son is allergic to tree nuts, agrees. — Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Allergy parents sound off on the approach 'Peter Rabbit' takes on food allergies," 13 Feb. 2018 The cones are collected, bagged, tagged, stored, and then driven more than 2,000 miles in a refrigerated truck from Georgia—situated between Turkey, Russia, and Iran—to tree nurseries across Europe. — John Wendle, National Geographic, "Gravity-Defying Villagers Risk Their Lives for Christmas Trees," 21 Dec. 2017 Since 2009, when a cougar was treed in western Wisconsin, the DNR has attempted to collect hair, blood, stool or other samples from the animals for genetic analyses. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Watchers on lookout for female cougars in Wisconsin," 1 Nov. 2017 Thanks to Treepedia, an online map launched by the MIT Senseable City Lab, inhabitants of 20 urban centers can compare the distribution of their city’s greenery to tree coverage in other places across the globe. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "MIT’s ‘Treepedia’ Shows How Green Your City Grows," 25 Apr. 2017 National research also shows healthy trees can add between 7 and 11 percent to the value of a property, and homes with treed lots sell faster than those without trees. — Detroit Free Press, "Appeal of urban ‘tree canopies’ growing across Michigan," 11 Sep. 2017 After all, as they’ve been warned by their doctors, skin and blood test results reveal that those with peanut allergies are also often allergic to tree nuts. — Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian, "Tree Nut Allergies May Be Massively Overdiagnosed," 18 Apr. 2017

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.