holly

[ hol-ee ]

noun,plural hol·lies.
  1. any of numerous trees or shrubs of the genus Ilex, as I. opaca(American holly ), the state tree of Delaware, or I. aquifolium(English holly ), having glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries.

  2. the foliage and berries, used for decoration, especially during the Christmas season.

Origin of holly

1
before 1150; Middle English holi(e), holyn,Old English hole(g)n; cognate with Welsh celyn,Irish cuillean; akin to Dutch, German hulst,French houx (<Old High German hulis)

Words Nearby holly

Other definitions for Holly (2 of 2)

Holly
[ hol-ee ]

noun
  1. Buddy Charles Hardin Holley, 1936–59, U.S. rock and roll singer and guitarist.

  2. a female or male given name.

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How to use holly in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for holly (1 of 2)

holly

/ (ˈhɒlɪ) /


nounplural -lies
  1. any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex, such as the Eurasian I. aquifolium, having bright red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges

  2. branches of any of these trees, used for Christmas decorations

  1. holly oak another name for holm oak

Origin of holly

1
Old English holegn; related to Old Norse hulfr, Old High German hulis, German Hulst, Old Slavonic kolja prick

British Dictionary definitions for Holly (2 of 2)

Holly

/ (ˈhɒlɪ) /


noun
  1. Buddy. real name Charles Harden Holley. 1936–59, US rock-and-roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His hits (all 1956–59) include "That'll be the Day", "Maybe Baby", "Peggy Sue", "Oh, Boy", "Think It Over", and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012