line n. = *timberline.

- ring n. Ring in a cross-section of a tree, from one year's growth.

- surgeon n. Person who treats decayed trees in order to preserve them.

- —n. - perennial plant with a woody self-supporting main stem or trunk and usu. Unbranched for some distance above the ground.

- piece or frame of wood etc. For various purposes (shoe-tree).

- = *family tree. —v. (trees; treed) force to take refuge in a tree.

orig. S.afr. —v. (-kk-) 1 travel or make one's way arduously.

- esp. Hist. Migrate or journey with one's belongings by ox-wagon. —n. - a long or arduous journey or walk (quite a trek to the launderette). B each stage of this.

- organized migration of a body of people. trekker n. [dutch, = draw]

n. Colloq. Trigonometry. [abbreviation]

- point n. Reference point on high ground, used in triangulation.

—v. (-mm-) 1 a make neat or of the required size or form, esp. By cutting away irregular or unwanted parts. B set in good order.

- (foll. By off, away) cut off (unwanted parts).

- ornament, decorate.

- adjust the balance of (a ship or aircraft) by arranging its cargo etc.

- arrange (sails) to suit the wind.

- a associate oneself with currently prevailing views, esp. To advance oneself. B hold a middle course in politics or opinion.

- colloq. A rebuke sharply. B thrash. C get the better of in a bargain etc. —n. - state of readiness or fitness (in perfect trim).

- ornament or decorative material.

- trimming of a person's hair. —adj. (trimmer, trimmest) 1 neat or spruce.

- in good order; well arranged or equipped. [old english, = make firm]

n. (pl. -s) 1 group of three.

- mus. A composition for three performers. B the performers. [french and italian from latin]

—v. (-pp-) 1 a (often foll. By up) (cause to) stumble, esp. By catching the feet. B (foll. By up) (cause to) make a slip or blunder.

- a move with quick light steps. B (of a rhythm etc.) Run lightly.

- make an excursion to a place.

- a operate (a mechanism) suddenly by knocking aside a catch etc. B automatically cut out.

- slang have a hallucinatory experience caused by a drug. —n. - journey or excursion, esp. For pleasure.

- a stumble or blunder. B tripping or being tripped up.

- nimble step.

- slang drug-induced hallucinatory experience.

- device for tripping a mechanism etc. [dutch trippen skip, hop]

past and past part. Of *tread.

suffix physics forming nouns denoting: 1 elementary particle (positron).

- particle accelerator. [from *electron]

n. Colloq. Usu. Derog. Trotskyite. [abbreviation]

- —v. (-tt-) 1 (of a person) run at a moderate pace.

- (of a horse) proceed at a steady pace faster than a walk, lifting each diagonal pair of legs alternately.

- colloq. Walk, go.

- cause (a horse or person) to trot.

- traverse (a distance) at a trot. —n. - action or exercise of trotting (proceed at a trot; went for a trot).

- (the trots) slang diarrhoea. on the trot colloq. - in succession (six days on the trot).

- continually busy (kept me on the trot). Trot out 1 colloq. Introduce (an opinion etc.) Tediously or repeatedly.

- cause (a horse) to trot to show his paces. [french]

n. (in full troy weight) system of weights used for precious metals and gems, with a pound of 12 ounces or 5,760 grains; 1 oz. Troy = 31.1035 g. [probably troyes in france]