tri: 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. øgrow 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. øøtreeless adj. treelessness n. tree-like adj. [OE treow f. Gmc]
