Christmas tree

plural Christmas trees · alternative Christmas's tree · alternative X'mas tree · alternative X-mas tree · alternative Xmas tree

1. An evergreen tree (usually a conifer), or an artificial tree made to resemble this, which is typically decorated with lights and ornaments and often an angel or star at its tip, and used as a decoration during the Christmas holiday season.

   It was in 1840 that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had a Christmas tree and so it became fashionable in England.

   1934, John N[icholas] Then, “Christmas Customs in Other Lands”, in Christmas: A Collection of Christmaslore, Milwaukee, Wis.: The Bruce Publishing Company, →OCLC, part 2 (Christmas Customs), pages 45–46

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   "I and your mother," he wrote, "sit in the evenings, and gild apples and nuts, because we intend to dress up a Christmas tree,[…]["]

   1807, Augustus von Kotzebue, chapter XI, in [anonymous], transl., The Pastor’s Daughter, with Other Romances. […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 220

   At the head of every table there was a sheep roasted whole, the horns gilt, and the nose tipped with silver. All the fruits were hung upon Christmas trees.

   1856 September 20, “The Grand Coronation Dinner”, in The Illustrated London News, volume XXIX, London: William Little […], →OCLC, page 296, column 3

   Rockin' around the Christmas tree / At the Christmas party hop / Mistletoe hung where you can see / Every couple tries to stop / Rockin' around the Christmas tree / Let the Christmas spirit ring / Later we'll have some pumpkin pie / And we'll do some caroling

   1958 October 19 (date recorded), Johnny Marks, “Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree”, performed by Brenda Lee, [Santa Monica, Calif.]: Decca Records, published 24 November 1958

   O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, / Your branches green delight us! / O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, / Your branches green delight us. / They're green when summer days are bright; / They're green when winter snow is white. / O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, / Your branches green delight us.

   1960, “O Christmas Tree”, in Ann McGovern, editor, Treasury of Christmas Stories, New York, N.Y.: The Four Winds Press, Scholastic Magazines, →OCLC, page 78

   At the very moment he cried out, David realised that what he had run into was only the Christmas tree. Disgusted with himself at such cowardice, he spat a needle from his mouth, stepped back from the tree and listened. There were no sounds of any movement upstairs: no shouts, no sleepy grumbles, only a gentle tinkle from the decorations as the tree had recovered from the collision.

   1994, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Hippopotamus, London: Quality Paperbacks Direct, page 25

   Synonyms: holiday tree, Yule tree

2. Something which resembles a Christmas tree (sense 1) in appearance (for example, in having coloured lights) or shape.
   1. broadlyinformalSomething which is elaborately decorated.

      The modern infantryman is a Christmas tree of weaponry, with grenades and extra ammunition hanging from all parts of his upper body.

      1985 May 20, Ellen Benoit, “Fit to Fight: Despite Advances in Technology since 1945, the Essential Weapon in the U.S. Arsenal is still the American GI”, in James W[alker] Michaels, editor, Forbes, volume 135, number 11, New York, N.Y.: Forbes, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 230, column 3

   2. broadlybodybuildingA pattern of muscles visible in the lower back, resembling in outline the shape of a conifer.

      The V-bar pull-up is a great retro exercise I pulled from the Arnold [Schwarzenegger] & Franco Columbo^([sic – meaning Franco Columbu]) Golden Era bodybuilding days. […] These are great for really developing that Christmas tree in your lower back and the proper arch at the top is key in that regard.

      2013, Cory Gregory, “Get Jacked! The 1,000 Rep Workout”, in Fitness Rx, volume 11, number 4, Seatauket, N.Y.: Advanced Research Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 56; reproduced with changes as “The 1,000 Rep Workout”, in CoryGFitness, September 2021 (22 June 2023 version), archived from the original on 19 Dec 2024

   3. broadlyslangaeronauticsA panel of indicator lights in an aircraft or a submarine.

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      Farnsworth and Reed […] have reported on comparative reaction times to "Christmas tree" signal lights with respect to color deficiency. One of the most important color discriminations involved in the operation of a submarine is that of reading the "Christmas tree," a panel of 30 to 60 small jewel-shaped lights, used to indicate whether hull openings, such as hatches and vents, are sealed or not.

      D[ean] Farnsworth, J. D. Reed (5 February 1946), Comparative Reaction Times to Christmas Tree Signal Lights with Respect to Color Deficiency (Project X-265 (Av-153-c); Report No. 10), New London, Conn.: Medical Research Department, U.S. Navy Submarine Base, New London

   4. USbroadlyhistoricalaeronauticsAn alert area at an air base with aircraft parked in stubs arranged at a 45-degree angle to a central taxiway to enable them to move rapidly to a runway; these were constructed by the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force during the Cold War (generally 1947–1991).

      The current alert area consists of a "Christmas Tree" configuration with alert parking stubs angled at 45° off of a central taxiway.

      1983 April 19, Norman G. Delbridge, Jr., witness, “Questions Submitted by Senator Strom Thurmond, Answers Supplied by Gen. Norman G. Delbridge, Jr., Assistant Chief of Engineers, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Department of the Army”, in Military Construction Authorization Fiscal Year 1984: Hearings before the Subcommittee on Military Construction of the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, Ninety-eighth Congress, First Session on S. 720, a Bill to Authorize Certain Construction at Military Installations for Fiscal Year 1984, and for Other Purposes […] (S. Hrg. 98-448), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 252

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      The existing ramp, the part that the B-52 used, a great amount of it was out in the alert area, on what we call a christmas tree^([sic]) stub at the end of the runway, in a dispersed posture.

      1968 May 1, Colonel Fenlon, witness, “Statement of Maj. Gen. G. H. Goddard, Director of Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force—Resumed”, in Military Construction Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1969: Joint Hearings before the Subcommittees on Military Construction of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, Ninetieth Congress, Second Session on H.R. 18785, an Act Making Appropriations for Military Construction for the Department of Defense for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1969, and for Other Purposes […], Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 350

      At the eastern tip of the runway-taxiway lay the alert area for about nine aircraft, along with an alert building for the airmen to live. This area, called the "Christmas Tree" as a result of the Christmas tree shape of the runway pattern for alert aircraft, had compacted gravel base for concrete, but had not been paved.

      1975, Robert Herman Kelting, The Great Bong Bungle, volume I (unpublished dissertation), Madison, Wis.: University of Wisconsin–Madison, →OCLC, page 21

   5. broadlyhobbiesA pole with lights, similar to a traffic signal, used for signalling the start of an automobile race.

      Then, after a smoky-burnout to warm up the tires, you're lined up next to another competitor and the Christmas tree lights blink down … yellow, yellow, yellow, green!

      1990 January, Rich Taylor, “Racing 1990: Cheap Thrills: Four Grass-roots Rides—Low Investment, Low Maintenance, High on Fun”, in Joe Oldham, editor, Popular Mechanics, volume 167, number 1, New York, N.Y.: The Hearst Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 96, column 3

   6. broadlyslangoil industryA collection of gauges, valves, and other components installed at the top of wellhead to control the flow of gas or oil.

      Wellheads, which support downhole tubing, casing, and other components, are connected at the top of wells to Christmas trees, which control production rates and fluid flows out of the well and may also direct fluids and equipment into the well

      2010, Robert Heidersbach, “Oilfield Equipment”, in Winston Revie, editor, Metallurgy and Corrosion Control in Oil and Gas Production (Wiley Series in Corrosion; 14), Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 232

   7. broadlyball gamesA 4-3-2-1 formation, with four defenders, three centre midfielders, two attacking midfielders and a striker in a triangular pattern.

      That or, in the name, something given a title to cover up the fact that all it was, was a football formation. But then the Christmas Tree came along.

      2015 August 20, Edward Couzens-Lake, Mapping the Pitch: Football Formations Through The Ages, Meyer & Meyer Sport, →ISBN

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      We ended up inventing the Christmas tree formation. It came about as a practical necessity but it married perfectly to the philosophy of the president.

      2016 May 26, Carlo Ancelotti, Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds and Matches, Penguin UK, →ISBN

      Even when Terry Venables' Christmas tree tactics has him playing with his back to goal, holding the ball up, taking a bruising from centre-backs, Shearer stays physically strong.

      2016 June 2, Henry Winter, Fifty Years of Hurt: The Story of England Football and Why We Never Stop Believing, Random House, →ISBN

3. broadlyA Christmas party, especially one organized for (underprivileged) children by a charity, a school, etc.

   The Dennison Associates hold a Christmas Tree for Children and more than 300 little tots are entertained.

   1922 March, Round Robin, Framingham, Mass.: Dennison Manufacturing Company, →OCLC, page 4

4. AustraliaOften with a descriptive word: any of several shrubs or trees native to Australia which bloom in summer at the end of the year around Christmastime, and so may be used as a Christmas decoration; especially the fire tree or moodjar (Nuytsia floribunda).

   The moodjar (Nuytsia floribunda), also known as the Christmas tree because it flowers during the southern summer festive season, has roots that infect neighbouring trees.

   2023, Derek Harvey [et al.], “Mediterranean-type Shrublands”, in Rob Houston, editor, Habitats: Discover Earth’s Precious Wild Places, London: Dorling Kindersley, →ISBN, page 74, column 1

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   SYDNEY CHRISTMAS-TREE [running head] […] The shrub chosen as the Sydney "Christmas" is well worthy of the honour […] The flowers, which are irregularly star-shaped, […] continue increasing in size, and gradually ripening in tint, becoming first a pearl white, then palest blush, then pink, rose-colour, and crimson: the constant change taking place in them, and the presence of all these hues at one time on a spray of half a dozen flowers, has a singularly pretty appearance.

   1844, Mrs. Charles Meredith [i.e., Louisa Anne Meredith], chapter XIII, in Notes and Sketches of New South Wales. During a Residence in that Colony from 1839 to 1844, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 127

   In summer, Nuytsia floribunda or WA [Western Australian] Christmas tree dot the roadsides and fields. Christmas trees have long been known to the Noongar people as moodjar, who say the trees hold the spirits of their ancestors. It blooms consistently October to December, signalling the arrival of Christmas, and is believed to be the largest parasitic tree in the world.

   2021, Melissa Connell, Catherine Lawson, Grace Hamill, “Geraldton and Wildflower Country”, in 100 Things to See on Australia’s Coral Coast: + Karijini and the Pilbara, Bulli, Wollongong, N.S.W.: Exploring Eden Media, →ISBN, page 51, column 2

5. New ZealandSynonym of pohutukawa (“a coastal evergreen tree, Metrosideros excelsa, native to New Zealand and producing a brilliant display of red flowers with prominent stamens around Christmastime”)

   Perhaps the most strikingly beautiful New Zealand flower is the pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa), a close relation of the ratas. It, too, has brilliant red flowers, also spiky, and from their season of blooming it is sometimes called the Christmas-tree.

   1907 October 26, Constance A[lice] Barnicoat, “New Zealand Wild Flowers”, in Country Life, volume XXII, number 564, London: George Newnes […], →OCLC, page 589, column 1

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   Another interesting and characteristic tree confined to the province of Auckland is the pohutukawa (Metrosideros tomentosa) or Christmas tree of the settlers, so called from its blooming at the Christmas season and taking the place, in household decoration, of the berried mistletoe and holly.

   1884, Alex[ander] Wilson, “Auckland”, in Alex[ander] Wilson, Rutherford Waddell, T. W. Whitson, Maoriland: Illustrated Handbook to New Zealand, Melbourne, Vic.; Sydney, N.S.W.: George Robertson and Co. […] [for the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand], →OCLC, page 157

   Metrosideros tomentosa (Myrtaceae), 47571. From Auckland, New Zealand. Seeds presented by Mr. James W. Poynton. "The Christmas tree of our early settlers; native name 'pohutukawa.' It comes into bloom mostly during the Christmas week (midsummer here). The flowers are deep red and the tree is very pretty when in flower.[…]" (Poynton.)

   [1919 August 28, James W. Poynton, quotee, Plant Immigrants, number 160, Washington, D.C.: Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, Bureau of Plant Industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture, →OCLC, page 1471

   Remember the early, not too early, mornings when you went together down a cliff-side track to the little beach fringed with crimson-flowering pohutukawa—a Garden of Eden touch for southern eyes. […] Then the scramble up the track, glimpsing the dark-red Christmas tree blossoms against the sea's azure, to the relish of fried eggs and bacon and good strong tea, swallowed hot, cup after cup—before the new-fangled coffee sipping.

   1993, Ian Milner, “Waitaki Days, Waitaki Nights”, in Intersecting Lines: The Memoirs of Ian Milner, Wellington: Victoria University Press, →ISBN, page 66

   M. excelsa is a tree that is very significant to the history and people of New Zealand. […] [T]he New Zealand Christmas Tree’s Maori name of “Pohutukawa” translates closely to “head dress of red feathers” as the flowers according to legend were mistaken for feathers by a Maori chief[…].

   2010, Felina Marie Cordova, Ronald Ross Watson, “New Zealand Christmas Tree: Historic Uses and Cancer Prevention”, in Ronald Ross Watson, Victor R. Preedy, editors, Bioactive Foods and Extracts: Cancer Treatment and Prevention, Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, →ISBN, section IV (Nonbotanical Dietary Components), page 584

   Synonyms: New Zealand Christmas tree, pohutukawa