Definition

1. Noun:
   • An ornamented evergreen used as a Christmas decoration: A tree, typically an evergreen such as a fir, pine, or spruce, that is brought indoors and decorated with lights, ornaments, and other festive items to celebrate Christmas.
   • Medium to tall fir of western North America having a conic crown and branches in tiers; leaves smell of orange when crushed: A specific species of fir tree (Abies procera), also known as the noble fir, native to the Pacific Northwest of North America.
   • Tall timber tree of central and southern Europe having a regular crown and grey bark: A specific species of fir tree (Abies alba), also known as the European silver fir.
   • A terrestrial evergreen shrub or small tree of western Australia having brilliant yellow-orange flowers; parasitic on roots of grasses: A specific flowering plant (Nuytsia floribunda), also known as the Western Australian Christmas tree.
   • Australian tree or shrub with red flowers; often used in Christmas decoration: A specific plant (Ceratopetalum gummiferum), also known as the New South Wales Christmas bush.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We decorated the Christmas tree with lights and baubles.
  • The noble fir is a popular Christmas tree because of its strong branches.
  • The Christmas tree in the town square is over fifty feet tall.
  • In Australia, the Christmas tree (Nuytsia floribunda) blooms with bright flowers in December.

Advanced Usage

• "To trim the Christmas tree": To decorate the Christmas tree.
  • Every year, our family gathers to trim the Christmas tree.
• "Christmas tree farm": A farm where trees are grown specifically to be sold as Christmas trees.
  • We went to a Christmas tree farm to cut down our own tree.

Variants and Related Words

• Christmas tree stand (n): A supportive base used to hold a Christmas tree upright.
• Christmas tree lights (n): Strings of small electric lights used to decorate a Christmas tree.
• Christmas tree ornament (n): A decorative item hung on a Christmas tree.
• Christmas tree skirt (n): A decorative cloth placed around the base of a Christmas tree.

Synonyms

• Yule tree: An archaic or poetic term for a Christmas tree.
• Holiday tree: A more secular term sometimes used for a decorated tree during the winter holiday season.
• Fir tree / Pine tree / Spruce tree: Types of evergreen trees commonly used as Christmas trees.

Related Phrases

• "Like a Christmas tree": An idiom describing someone or something that is heavily decorated or covered in many items, often in a gaudy way.
  • After winning the race, he was standing there like a Christmas tree, covered in medals.
• "To put up the Christmas tree": To assemble and erect the Christmas tree for decoration.
  • We usually put up the Christmas tree on the first weekend of December.

Noun

1. an ornamented evergreen used as a Christmas decoration
2. medium to tall fir of western North America having a conic crown and branches in tiers; leaves smell of orange when crushed
3. tall timber tree of central and southern Europe having a regular crown and grey bark
4. a terrestrial evergreen shrub or small tree of western Australia having brilliant yellow-orange flowers; parasitic on roots of grasses
5. Australian tree or shrub with red flowers; often used in Christmas decoration