tree

noun \ ˈtrē \

|Updated on: 21 Jul 2018

Definition of tree

1 a : 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

3 a (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

—

treeless

play \ˈtrē-ləs\ adjective

—

treelike

play \ˈtrē-ˌlīk\ adjective

See tree defined for English-language learners

See tree defined for kids

Examples of tree in a Sentence

He chopped down the tree.

Recent Examples of tree from the Web

Pop music meditations, inflatable palm trees, slow dances, and untold family stories mix with humour, seagulls, and Gidget.

— SFChronicle.com, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of July 15," 12 July 2018
Most of the new landscaping is in, including trees, bushes and flowers.

— steve lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "With Water Street Mall work finished, Aurora looks to renovate Mundy Park," 12 July 2018
Endorsements like that don’t fall from trees, and Trump flips for entertainers.

— stu bykofsky, Philly.com, "Why Trump should have picked Philly Judge Genece Brinkley for U.S. Supreme Court | Stu Bykofsky," 12 July 2018
Critics have charged the faster-flying F-35 pilot, whose visibility from the cockpit is inferior to the A-10’s, would have a difficult time picking out targets on the ground—especially one hiding among buildings, behind trees, and in rough terrain.

— kyle mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Long Awaited A-10 vs.-F-35 Flyoff Is Off to a Sketchy Start," 11 July 2018
The storm also uprooted trees, downed power lines and damaged other buildings.

— CBS News, "Newborn baby killed, dozens injured when tornado strikes North Dakota city," 11 July 2018
With each pass, the algorithm improved its ability to recognize waterways, trees, fields, roads, and buildings.

— bill gourgey, WIRED, "How Artificial Intelligence Could Prevent Natural Disasters," 10 July 2018
Sitting just beyond a grove of trees, this home is on the market now for £1,085,000, or about $1,437,847.

— alex bazeley, Curbed, "Sculptural steel home built into a 19th-century railway bridge wants $1.4M," 9 July 2018
With stunning vistas and dots of eucalyptus trees, La Jolla Farms Stables became one of the premier equestrian centers in Southern California.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "#MeToo movement prompts disclosure of alleged sexual abuse at La Jolla Farms Stables," 8 July 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of tree

Middle English, from Old English trēow; akin to Old Norse trē tree, Greek drys, Sanskrit dāru wood

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Wood Production Terms

cord, lumber, punk

tree

verb

Definition of tree

treed; treeing

transitive verb

1 a : 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

Recent Examples of tree from the Web

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
Their upper bodies could pull them from tree branch to tree branch.

— nicole tsong, The Seattle Times, "Don’t worry about working out: Just get up, and keep moving.," 14 June 2017

First Known Use of tree

1575

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Tree

biographical name \ ˈtrē \

Definition of Tree

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

TREE Defined for English Language Learners

tree

noun

Definition of tree for English Language Learners

: a usually tall plant that has a thick, wooden stem and many large branches
: a drawing that connects things with lines to show how they are related to each other