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Definition of tree noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

  

tree

 noun
noun
NAmE//tri//
 
 
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  •   a tall plant that can live a long time. Trees have a thick central wooden trunk from which branches grow, usually with leaves on them an oak tree to plant a tree to chop/cut down a tree They followed a path through the trees. Topic CollocationsThe Living Worldanimals
    • animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
    • fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
    • birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
    • insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
    • insects/bees/locusts swarm
    • bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
    • spiders spin/weave a web
    • snakes/lizards shed their skins
    • bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
    • insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
    • an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
    • attract/find/choose a mate
    • produce/release eggs/sperm
    • lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
    • inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
    • mark/enter/defend (a) territory
    • stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
    plants and fungi
    • trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
    • a seed germinates/sprouts
    • leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
    • flower buds swell/open
    • a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
    • pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
    • produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
    • produce/bear fruit
    • develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
    • provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
    • perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
    bacteria and viruses
    • bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
    • bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
    • bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
    • bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
    • a virus enters/invades something/the body
    • a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
    • be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
    • contain/carry/harbor bacteria/a virus
    • kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
     compare bush, shrub see bay tree, Christmas tree, family tree, phone tree, plane tree, plane tree
    • Idioms
    the apple doesn't fall/never falls far from the tree (saying)
     
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    a child usually behaves in a similar way to his or her parent(s)
    be barking up the wrong tree (informal)
     
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    to have the wrong idea about how to get or achieve something You're barking up the wrong tree if you think we'd lend you money again.
    be out of your tree (informal)
     
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    to be behaving in a crazy or stupid way, perhaps because of drugs or alcohol
    money doesn't grow on trees (saying)
     
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    used to tell someone not to use something or spend money carelessly because you do not have a lot of it
    not see the forest for the trees
     
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    to not see or understand the main point about something, because you are paying too much attention to small details
    See tree in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
    Check pronunciation: tree

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