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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of Christmas tree

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

In 1983, Gene Kelly’s Beverly Hills home was destroyed after a Christmas tree ignited in the middle of the night.

From Los Angeles Times

The holiday serenades, decorations dating back to the 1930s and a Christmas tree with more than 14,000 lights are part of the draw.

From Salon

A few days earlier, activists from the group targeted the Ritz Hotel, dumping bags of manure beside its Christmas tree.

From BBC

The lawns often serve as activity centers where malls hold kid concerts, adult exercise classes and Christmas tree lighting events.

From Los Angeles Times

The lavish presents - all clearly marked with designer labels - piled up and decorated like a Christmas tree, the expensive trips to five-star resorts around the world, the extravagant wedding parties that closed roads to traffic.

From BBC