tree of life

American  

noun

1. a tree in the Garden of Eden that yielded food giving everlasting life. Genesis 2:9; 3:22.

2. a tree in the heavenly Jerusalem with leaves for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2.

3. arbor vitae.

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tree of life British  

noun

1. Old Testament a tree in the Garden of Eden, the fruit of which had the power of conferring eternal life (Genesis 2:9; 3:22)

2. New Testament a tree in the heavenly Jerusalem, for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2)

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Etymology

Origin of tree of life

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tree of life

Cooperative breeding is a strategy that’s arisen across the tree of life.

From Slate ● May 10, 2026

In yeast they are extremely small and precise -- a striking oddity in the tree of life that has puzzled chromosome biologists for decades.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 10, 2026

But residents can no longer view the bright autumn colours of the tree of life, a symbol often painted by Behzad, as the wooden door has been padlocked shut.

From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026

If comprehensively deciphered, the relationships between the species populating the genealogical tree of life, Mr. Telford argues, offer the possibility of understanding the evolutionary history of every component of natural biology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025

I walked in the direction from which we had come, and when I reached the timberline, I collected wood broken from the cherry tree, the peony, and the walnut, which is the tree of life.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston