Christmas tree

noun

plural Christmas trees

1

: a usually evergreen tree decorated at Christmas

2

: an oil-well control device consisting of an assembly of fittings placed at the top of the well

3

drag racing : a set of paired colored lights arranged in two columns on a vertical pole in front of the starting line and used for starting a race

Lights on top of the Christmas tree tell the drivers to enter the staging area. Larger yellow lights mean, "get ready." The green light means "go!"

—Lori Polydoros

Examples of Christmas tree in a Sentence

We hung the lights on the Christmas tree.

Recent Examples on the Web

While some people take down their Christmas trees the moment the calendar flips past Dec. 25, others wait until the New Year (and sometimes much longer, even into the summer). —Maria Pasquini, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025

Last chance: Cincinnati Nights of Lights This drive-thru holiday light show features giant Christmas trees, glowing snowflakes, dancing candy canes and more. —Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 1 Jan. 2025

In the snap taken in front of a Christmas tree, Kourtney and Travis don all-black outfits and stand in the middle with three kids on either side. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

Wondering how to dispose of your real Christmas tree? —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Christmas tree

noun

: a usually evergreen tree decorated at Christmas