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tree
/triː/
large woody plant with a trunk
We sat under the shade of a tall tree.
The example shows a tree providing shade.
formal
A perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, supporting branches and leaves in most species.
The ancient oak tree stood in the center of the village for over 300 years.
The example highlights the longevity of trees.
Trees are essential for ecosystems, providing oxygen and habitats for wildlife.
Engineering
technical
A diagram or structure resembling a tree, such as a family tree or a branching flowchart.
The data structure was organized as a binary tree for efficient searching.
The example shows a tree used in computer science.
In computer science, a tree is a widely used abstract data type.
Collocations
family treea diagram showing the relationships in a familytree of lifea concept representing the evolutionary relationships among speciesmoney doesn't grow on treeswealth is not easily obtained
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Pluralization
The plural of 'tree' is 'trees'. Remember to add '-s' for regular plurals.
Gold Rule
Distinguish from shrubs
A 'tree' typically has a single main stem or trunk, while a 'shrub' has multiple stems and is usually shorter.
Word Origin
From Old English 'trēow', derived from Proto-Germanic '*trewō', which has cognates in Old Norse 'tré', Dutch 'boom', and German 'Baum'. The Proto-Indo-European root '*dóru' (tree, wood) also appears in Greek 'dóry' (spear, made of wood) and Latin 'lignum' (wood).
Usage Notes
The word 'tree' can refer to both the physical plant and metaphorical structures (e.g., family tree). In computing, it often describes hierarchical data structures.
Word Breakdown
tr-
related to wood or hardness
root-ee
noun suffix indicating an object or thing
suffixEnglish Dictionary