tree
noun /triː/
/triː/
Idioms - 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
enlarge image- an oak/olive/apple tree
- to plant a tree
- to chop/cut down/fell a tree
- They took a seat on a fallen tree trunk in the middle of a small clearing.
- They followed a path through the trees.
- Tall pine trees line the roadways.
- a fruit tree
- I quickly climbed a nearby tree and hid in the branches.
- The branches of trees sway in the wind.
Collocations The living worldThe living worldAnimalscompare bush, shrub see also bay tree, bread tree, Christmas tree, clothes tree, family tree, gum tree, maidenhair tree, phone tree, plane tree, sausage tree, shade tree, shoe tree, tea tree- 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
- 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/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/harbour bacteria/a virus
- kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
Extra ExamplesTopics Plants and treesa1- A fallen tree was blocking the road.
- Palm trees line the broad avenue.
- Protesters formed a human blockade to stop loggers felling trees.
- The cat got stuck up a tree.
- The floods left a tide of mud and uprooted trees.
- The forest can be dated by studying tree rings.
- The tree belt around the fields acts as a windbreak.
- Tree cover would prevent further soil erosion.
- Monkeys were swinging wildly from tree to tree.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- deciduous
- evergreen
- coniferous
- …
- clump
- copse
- grove
- …
- grow
- plant
- climb
- …
- grow
- stand
- line something
- …
- bark
- branch
- leaves
- …
- in a/the tree
- on a/the tree
- under a tree
- …
Word OriginOld English trēow, trēo: from a Germanic variant of an Indo-European root shared by Greek doru ‘wood, spear’, drus ‘oak’.
Idioms
the apple doesn’t fall/never falls far from the tree
- (saying, especially North American English) a child usually behaves in a similar way to his or her parent(s)
at the top of the tree
- in the highest position or rank in a profession or career
be barking up the wrong tree
- (informal) to have the wrong idea about how to get or achieve something
- You're barking up the wrong tree if you're expecting us to lend you any money.
be out of your tree
- (informal) to be behaving in a crazy or stupid way, perhaps because of drugs or alcoholTopics Personal qualitiesc2
it/money doesn’t grow on trees
- (saying) used to tell somebody not to use something or spend money carelessly because you do not have a lot of it
not see the wood for the trees (British English)
(North American English not see the forest for the trees)
- to not see or understand the main point about something, because you are paying too much attention to small details