tree
tree / trē/ • n. 1. a woody perennial plant, typically having a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing lateral branches at some distance from the ground. Compare with shrub1 . ∎ (in general use) any bush, shrub, or herbaceous plant with a tall erect stem, e.g., a banana plant.2. a wooden structure or part of a structure. ∎ archaic or poetic/lit. the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. ∎ archaic a gallows or gibbet.3. a thing that has a branching structure resembling that of a tree. ∎ (also tree diagram) a diagram with a structure of branching connecting lines, representing different processes and relationships.• v. (trees, treed, tree·ing) [tr.] force (a hunted animal) to take refuge in a tree. ∎ inf. force (someone) into a difficult situation.PHRASES: out of one's tree inf. completely stupid; insane.up a tree inf. in a difficult situation without escape; cornered.DERIVATIVES: tree·less adj.tree·less·ness n.tree·like / -ˌlīk/ adj.
