The term 'TREE-TO-BE' is a combination of two words, 'tree' and 'to be'. The first word, 'tree', refers to a large plant with a trunk and branches that are usually covered in leaves. The second word, 'to be', is a verb that expresses existence or a state of being. The crossword solution for this term is 'SEED', which is the small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow. Therefore, the term 'TREE-TO-BE' can be interpreted as a SEED that will eventually grow into a tree.