Christmas tree

noun

an evergreen tree decorated at Christmas with ornaments and lights.
a control board or panel containing a variety of colored lights for indicating the status of various functions, elements, components, etc.
an elaborate arrangement of pipes, valves, etc., as for controlling the flow of oil or gas.

Origin of Christmas tree

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for christmas tree

Contemporary Examples of christmas tree

Mohamed Mohamud tried to blow up a Portland Christmas-tree lighting in 2010.
Mohamed Mohamud Trial: Was He Tricked Into Terrorism?
Winston Ross
April 23, 2012

Historical Examples of christmas tree

I had a new dress on the Christmas-tree, and a sugar basket.
Little Prudy
Sophie May
Their Christmas-tree will be the royal palm; and nipa boughs their mistletoe.
The Great White Tribe in Filipinia
Paul T. Gilbert
In the dining-room, which was panelled with black oak, was the Christmas-tree.
Allan's Wife
H. Rider Haggard
This is all that I remember about the Christmas-tree at the Hall.
Allan's Wife
H. Rider Haggard
The war kit of the men was somewhat of the Christmas-tree order.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 2 (of 6)
Louis Creswicke

British Dictionary definitions for christmas tree

Christmas tree

noun

an evergreen tree or an imitation of one, decorated as part of Christmas celebrations
Also called: Christmas bush Australian any of various trees or shrubs flowering at Christmas and used for decoration
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