■ noun
1》 a woody perennial plant typically with a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing lateral branches.
2》 a wooden structure or part of a structure.
↘ archaic or literary the cross on which Christ was crucified.
↘ archaic a gibbet.
3》 (also ~ diagram ) a diagram with a structure of branching connecting lines, representing different processes and relationships.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ing , ~d )
1》 N. Amer. force (a hunted animal) to take refuge in a ~.
2》 informal, chiefly US force into a difficult situation.
Phrases
out of one's ~ informal mad.
Derivatives
~less adjective
~lessness noun
~-like adjective
Origin
OE trēow , trēo : from Gmc.