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Christmas tree

American  

noun

  1. an evergreen tree decorated at Christmas with ornaments and lights.

  2. a control board or panel containing a variety of colored lights for indicating the status of various functions, elements, components, etc.

  3. an elaborate arrangement of pipes, valves, etc., as for controlling the flow of oil or gas.


Christmas tree British  

noun

  1. an evergreen tree or an imitation of one, decorated as part of Christmas celebrations

  2. Also called: Christmas bush.  any of various trees or shrubs flowering at Christmas and used for decoration

  3. another name for pohutukawa

"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

Etymology

Origin of Christmas tree

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

WSJ | Buy Side: Save the hassle and waste with one of these artificial Christmas trees that look as good as the real thing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Each year Ellie Goan hangs two special decorations on her Christmas tree, a star and bauble - reminders of the two pregnancies she lost.

From BBC

Often, these traditions reach far beyond symbols of faith like Christmas trees and Hanukkah menorahs, and can be traced back to a treasured friend or a relative.

From Los Angeles Times

His back would have lit up like a Christmas tree.

From BBC

He testified in Congress many times saying he was afraid that, with the death tax, his family was going to have to sell the Christmas tree farm.

From Barron's