Adjacent Words

Tree definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TREE, n.
1. The general name of the largest of the vegetable kind, consisting of a firm woody stem springing from woody roots, and spreading above into branches which terminate in leaves. A tree differs from a shrub principally in size, many species of trees growing to the highth of fifty or sixty feet, and some species to seventy or eighty, and a few, particularly the pine, to a much greater highth.
Trees are of various kinds; as nuciferous, or nut-bearing trees; bacciferous, or berry-bearing; coniferous, or cone-bearing, etc. Some are forest-trees, and useful for timber or fuel; others are fruit trees, and cultivated in gardens and orchards; others are used chiefly for shade and ornament.
2. Something resembling a tree, consisting of a stem or stalk and branches; as a genealogical tree.
3. In ship-building, pieces of timber are called chess-trees, cross-trees, roof-trees, tressel-trees, etc.
4. In Scripture, a cross.
--Jesus, whom they slew and hanged on a tree. Acts 10.
5. Wood.
TREE'-FROG, n. [tree and frog.] A species of frog, the Rana arborea, found on trees and shrubs; called by the older writers, Ranunculus viridis.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
2: a figure that branches from a single root; "genealogical tree" [syn: tree, tree diagram]
3: English actor and theatrical producer noted for his lavish productions of Shakespeare (1853-1917) [syn: Tree, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree] v
1: force a person or an animal into a position from which he cannot escape [syn: corner, tree]
2: plant with trees; "this lot should be treed so that the house will be shaded in summer"
3: chase an animal up a tree; "the hunters treed the bear with dogs and killed it"; "her dog likes to tree squirrels"
4: stretch (a shoe) on a shoetree [syn: tree, shoetree]

Merriam Webster's

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

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tr?ow; akin to Old Norse tr? tree, Greek drys, Sanskrit d?ru wood Date: before 12th century 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. a. (1) a piece of wood (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 3. something in the form of or resembling a tree: 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> 4. saddletree • treeless adjective • treelike adjective II. transitive verb (treed; treeing) Date: 1575 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 (as a shoe) with a tree

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. 1 a a perennial plant with a woody self-supporting main stem or trunk when mature and usu. unbranched for some distance above the ground (cf. SHRUB(1)). b any similar plant having a tall erect usu. single stem, e.g. palm tree. 2 a piece or frame of wood etc. for various purposes (shoe-tree). 3 archaic or poet. a a gibbet. b a cross, esp. the one used for Christ's crucifixion. 4 (in full tree diagram) Math. a diagram with a structure of branching connecting lines. 5 = family tree. --v.tr. 1 force to take refuge in a tree. 2 esp. US put into a difficult position. 3 stretch on a shoe-tree. Phrases and idioms: grow on trees (usu. with neg.) be plentiful. tree agate agate with treelike markings. tree calf a calf binding for books stained with a treelike design. tree-fern a large fern, esp. of the family Cyatheaceae, with an upright trunklike stem. tree frog any arboreal tailless amphibian, esp. of the family Hylidae, climbing by means of adhesive discs on its digits. tree hopper any insect of the family Membracidae, living in trees. tree house a structure in a tree for children to play in. tree line = TIMBERLINE. tree of heaven an ornamental Asian tree, Ailanthus altissima, with evil-smelling flowers. tree of knowledge the branches of knowledge as a whole. tree of life = ARBOR VITAE. tree ring a ring in a cross section of a tree, from one year's growth. tree shrew any small insect-eating arboreal mammal of the family Tupaiidae having a pointed nose and bushy tail. tree sparrow 1 Brit. a sparrow, Passer montanus, inhabiting woodland areas. 2 US a N. American finch, Spizella arborea, inhabiting grassland areas. tree surgeon a person who treats decayed trees in order to preserve them. tree surgery the art or practice of such treatment. tree toad = tree frog. tree tomato a South American shrub, Cyphomandra betacea, with egg-shaped red fruit. tree-trunk the trunk of a tree. up a tree esp. US cornered; nonplussed. Derivatives: treeless adj. treelessness n. tree-like adj. Etymology: OE treow f. Gmc

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Tree Tree (tr[=e]), n. [OE. tree, tre, treo, AS. tre['o], tre['o]w, tree, wood; akin to OFries. tr[=e], OS. treo, trio, Icel. tr[=e], Dan. tr[ae], Sw. tr["a], tr["a]d, Goth. triu, Russ. drevo, W. derw an oak, Ir. darag, darog, Gr. dry^s a tree, oak, do`ry a beam, spear shaft, spear, Skr. dru tree, wood, d[=a]ru wood. [root]63, 241. Cf. Dryad, Germander, Tar, n., Trough.] 1. (Bot.) Any perennial woody plant of considerable size (usually over twenty feet high) and growing with a single trunk. Note: The kind of tree referred to, in any particular case, is often indicated by a modifying word; as forest tree, fruit tree, palm tree, apple tree, pear tree, etc. 2. Something constructed in the form of, or considered as resembling, a tree, consisting of a stem, or stock, and branches; as, a genealogical tree. 3. A piece of timber, or something commonly made of timber; -- used in composition, as in axletree, boottree, chesstree, crosstree, whiffletree, and the like. 4. A cross or gallows; as Tyburn tree. [Jesus] whom they slew and hanged on a tree. --Acts x. 39. 5. Wood; timber. [Obs.] --Chaucer. In a great house ben not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of tree and of earth. --Wyclif (2 Tim. ii. 20). 6. (Chem.) A mass of crystals, aggregated in arborescent forms, obtained by precipitation of a metal from solution. See Lead tree, under Lead. Tree bear (Zo["o]l.), the raccoon. [Local, U. S.] Tree beetle (Zo["o]l.) any one of numerous species of beetles which feed on the leaves of trees and shrubs, as the May beetles, the rose beetle, the rose chafer, and the goldsmith beetle. Tree bug (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of hemipterous insects which live upon, and suck the sap of, trees and shrubs. They belong to Arma, Pentatoma, Rhaphigaster, and allied genera. Tree cat (Zool.), the common paradoxure (Paradoxurus musang). Tree clover (Bot.), a tall kind of melilot (Melilotus alba). See Melilot. Tree crab (Zo["o]l.), the purse crab. See under Purse. Tree creeper (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of arboreal creepers belonging to Certhia, Climacteris, and allied genera. See Creeper, 3. Tree cricket (Zo["o]l.), a nearly white arboreal American cricket (Ecanthus niv[oe]us) which is noted for its loud stridulation; -- called also white cricket. Tree crow (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Old World crows belonging to Crypsirhina and allied genera, intermediate between the true crows and the jays. The tail is long, and the bill is curved and without a tooth. Tree dove (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of East Indian and Asiatic doves belonging to Macropygia and allied genera. They have long and broad tails, are chiefly arboreal in their habits, and feed mainly on fruit. Tree duck (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of ducks belonging to Dendrocygna and allied genera. These ducks have a long and slender neck and a long hind toe. They are arboreal in their habits, and are found in the tropical parts of America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Tree fern (Bot.), an arborescent fern having a straight trunk, sometimes twenty or twenty-five feet high, or even higher, and bearing a cluster of fronds at the top. Most of the existing species are tropical. Tree fish (Zo["o]l.), a California market fish (Sebastichthys serriceps). Tree frog. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Same as Tree toad. (b) Any one of numerous species of Old World frogs belonging to Chiromantis, Rhacophorus, and allied genera of the family Ranid[ae]. Their toes are furnished with suckers for adhesion. The flying frog (see under Flying) is an example. Tree goose (Zo["o]l.), the bernicle goose. Tree hopper (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of small leaping hemipterous insects which live chiefly on the branches and twigs of trees, and injure them by sucking the sap. Many of them are very odd in shape, the prothorax being often prolonged upward or forward in the form of a spine or crest. Tree jobber (Zo["o]l.), a woodpecker. [Obs.] Tree kangaroo. (Zo["o]l.) See Kangaroo. Tree lark (Zo["o]l.), the tree pipit. [Prov. Eng.] Tree lizard (Zo["o]l.), any one of a group of Old World arboreal lizards (Dendrosauria) comprising the chameleons. Tree lobster. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Tree crab, above. Tree louse (Zo["o]l.), any aphid; a plant louse. Tree moss. (Bot.) (a) Any moss or lichen growing on trees. (b) Any species of moss in the form of a miniature tree. Tree mouse (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of African mice of the subfamily Dendromyin[ae]. They have long claws and habitually live in trees. Tree nymph, a wood nymph. See Dryad. Tree of a saddle, a saddle frame. Tree of heaven (Bot.), an ornamental tree (Ailantus glandulosus) having long, handsome pinnate leaves, and greenish flowers of a disagreeable odor. Tree of life (Bot.), a tree of the genus Thuja; arbor vit[ae]. Tree onion (Bot.), a species of garlic (Allium proliferum) which produces bulbs in place of flowers, or among its flowers. Tree oyster (Zo["o]l.), a small American oyster (Ostrea folium) which adheres to the roots of the mangrove tree; -- called also raccoon oyster. Tree pie (Zo["o]l.), any species of Asiatic birds of the genus Dendrocitta. The tree pies are allied to the magpie. Tree pigeon (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of longwinged arboreal pigeons native of Asia, Africa, and Australia, and belonging to Megaloprepia, Carpophaga, and allied genera. Tree pipit. (Zo["o]l.) See under Pipit. Tree porcupine (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Central and South American arboreal porcupines belonging to the genera Ch[ae]tomys and Sphingurus. They have an elongated and somewhat prehensile tail, only four toes on the hind feet, and a body covered with short spines mixed with bristles. One South American species (S. villosus) is called also couiy; another (S. prehensilis) is called also c[oe]ndou. Tree rat (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of large ratlike West Indian rodents belonging to the genera Capromys and Plagiodon. They are allied to the porcupines. Tree serpent (Zo["o]l.), a tree snake. Tree shrike (Zo["o]l.), a bush shrike. Tree snake (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of snakes of the genus Dendrophis. They live chiefly among the branches of trees, and are not venomous. Tree sorrel (Bot.), a kind of sorrel (Rumex Lunaria) which attains the stature of a small tree, and bears greenish flowers. It is found in the Canary Islands and Teneriffe. Tree sparrow (Zo["o]l.) any one of several species of small arboreal sparrows, especially the American tree sparrow (Spizella monticola), and the common European species (Passer montanus). Tree swallow (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of swallows of the genus Hylochelidon which lay their eggs in holes in dead trees. They inhabit Australia and adjacent regions. Called also martin in Australia. Tree swift (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of swifts of the genus Dendrochelidon which inhabit the East Indies and Southern Asia. Tree tiger (Zo["o]l.), a leopard. Tree toad (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of amphibians belonging to Hyla and allied genera of the family Hylid[ae]. They are related to the common frogs and toads, but have the tips of the toes expanded into suckers by means of which they cling to the bark and leaves of trees. Only one species (Hyla arborea) is found in Europe, but numerous species occur in America and Australia. The common tree toad of the Northern United States (H. versicolor) is noted for the facility with which it changes its colors. Called also tree frog. See also Piping frog, under Piping, and Cricket frog, under Cricket. Tree warbler (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of arboreal warblers belonging to Phylloscopus and allied genera. Tree wool (Bot.), a fine fiber obtained from the leaves of pine trees.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Tree Tree, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Treed; p. pr. & vb. n. Treeing.] 1. To drive to a tree; to cause to ascend a tree; as, a dog trees a squirrel. --J. Burroughs. 2. To place upon a tree; to fit with a tree; to stretch upon a tree; as, to tree a boot. See Tree, n., 3.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(trees) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. A tree is a tall plant that has a hard trunk, branches, and leaves. I planted those apple trees. ...a variety of shrubs and trees. N-COUNT: oft n N see also Christmas tree, family tree 2. If you say that someone is barking up the wrong tree, you mean that they are following the wrong course of action because their beliefs or ideas about something are incorrect. (INFORMAL) Scientists in Switzerland realised that most other researchers had been barking up the wrong tree. PHRASE: V inflects, usu cont 3. If someone can't see the wood for the trees in British English, or can't see the forest for the trees in American English, they are very involved in the details of something and so they do not notice what is important about the thing as a whole. PHRASE: V inflects 4. the top of the tree: see top

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tre.

See BOTANY.

Moby Thesaurus

Stammbaum, acacia, ailanthus, alder, alligator pear, allspice, almond, apple, apricot, ash, aspen, avocado, ax, balsa, balsam, banyan, bare pole, basswood, bay, bayberry, beech, betel palm, birch, block, bottle up, buckeye, butternut, buttonwood, cacao, candleberry, cashew, cassia, catalpa, cherry, chestnut, chinquapin, cinnamon, citron, clove, coconut, collar, conifer, cork oak, corner, cross, cypress, death chair, death chamber, dogwood, drop, ebony, elder, electric chair, elm, eucalyptus, evergreen, family tree, fig, fir, frankincense, fruit tree, gallows, gallows-tree, gas chamber, genealogical tree, genealogy, gibbet, grapefruit, guava, guillotine, gum, halter, hardwood tree, hawthorn, hazel, hemlock, hemp, hempen collar, henna, hickory, holly, hop tree, horse chestnut, hot seat, ironwood, juniper, kumquat, laburnum, lancewood, larch, laurel, lemon, lethal chamber, lime, linden, litchi, litchi nut, locust, logwood, magnolia, mahogany, maiden, mango, mangrove, maple, mast, medlar, mountain ash, mulberry, noose, nutmeg, oak, olive, orange, palm, papaw, papaya, peach, pear, pecan, pedigree, persimmon, pine, pistachio, plane, plum, pole, pollard, pomegranate, poplar, quince, raffia palm, rain tree, redwood, rope, sandalwood, sapling, sassafras, scaffold, seedling, senna, sequoia, shade tree, softwood tree, spar, spruce, stake, stemma, stick, sycamore, tangerine, teak, the chair, timber, timber tree, tulip tree, walnut, willow, witch hazel, yew