dead tree noun 2adjective 1forms 1 noun2 •A tree that is still standing, but no longer alive. (compare: log, stump) •A quantity of paper; a collection of paper such as a book or newspaper.You can't grep dead trees. adjective1 •Made of or pertaining to paper, especially as opposed to a digital alternative.My question is basically do you need better on-line programs to search the docs ..., or actually different dead-tree style. — 1986 formsdead trees