Christmas tree
Americannoun
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an evergreen tree decorated at Christmas with ornaments and lights.
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a control board or panel containing a variety of colored lights for indicating the status of various functions, elements, components, etc.
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an elaborate arrangement of pipes, valves, etc., as for controlling the flow of oil or gas.
noun
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an evergreen tree or an imitation of one, decorated as part of Christmas celebrations
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Also called: Christmas bush. any of various trees or shrubs flowering at Christmas and used for decoration
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another name for pohutukawa
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.
In the live, as the members sit around a table of food with a Christmas tree in the background, talk turns to how 2025 is ending and the new year is around the corner.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026
The lawns often serve as activity centers where malls hold kid concerts, adult exercise classes and Christmas tree lighting events.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026
“I don’t want to be mean, but … the Christmas tree is up,” Sugarman continued, looking at the snap.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026
One option is to rent a living Christmas tree rather than buying a cut one.
From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026
“I mean, of course I know what a Christmas tree is. But we have another problem.”
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
