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From {{compound|en|Christmas|tree|notext=1|type=exocentric}}, a {{calque|en|de|[[Weynacht]] [[Baum]]|nocap=1}} {{qualifier|obsolete|17th c.}}, {{m|de|Weihnachtsbaum}}, from {{m|de|Weynacht}}, {{m|de|Weihnacht}} (literary or poetic variant of {{m|de|Weihnachten|t=Christmas}}) + {{m|de|-s|pos={{glossary|suffix}} forming {{glossary|genitive}} {{glossary|singular}} forms of some {{glossary|noun}}s}} + {{m|de|Baum|t=tree}}.<ref name="OED">{{R:OED Online|pos=n|id=9071374419|date=December 2024|nodot=1}}; {{R:Lexico|pos=n}}</ref>
From {{compound|en|Christmas|tree|notext=1|type=exocentric}}, a {{calque|en|de|[[Weynacht]] [[Baum]]|nocap=1}} {{qualifier|obsolete|17th c.}}, {{m|de|Weihnachtsbaum}}, from {{m|de|Weynacht}}, {{m|de|Weihnacht}} (literary or poetic variant of {{m|de|Weihnachten|t=Christmas}}) + {{m|de|Baum|t=tree}}.<ref name="OED">{{R:OED Online|pos=n|id=9071374419|date=December 2024|nodot=1}}; {{R:Lexico|pos=n}}</ref>


{{senseno|en|Christmas party|uc=1}} (“Christmas party”) refers to the fact that there is usually a Christmas tree ''({{senseno|en|decoration}})'' at the event.<ref name="OED"/>
{{senseno|en|Christmas party|uc=1}} (“Christmas party”) refers to the fact that there is usually a Christmas tree ''({{senseno|en|decoration}})'' at the event.<ref name="OED"/>
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{{trans-top|Christmas party}}
{{trans-top|Christmas party}}
* Finnish: {{t-needed|fi}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|kuusijuhla}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
{{trans-bottom}}
{{trans-bottom}}


{{trans-top|any of several shrubs or trees native to Australia which bloom in summer at the end of the year around Christmastime}}
{{trans-top|any of several shrubs or trees native to Australia which bloom in summer at the end of the year around Christmastime}}
* Finnish: {{t-needed|fi}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|joulupuu}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
* Macedonian: {{t-needed|mk}}
{{trans-bottom}}
{{trans-bottom}}

Revision as of 23:03, 18 December 2024

English

WOTD – 25 December 2024

Etymology

PIE word
*dóru
The emoji for Christmas tree: see the entry at 🎄.
A Christmas tree (sense 1).
A diagram of the Christmas tree (sense 2.3.2) at the former Glasgow Air Force Base in Montana, USA.
A Christmas tree (sense 2.4) used to signal the start of a drag race.
The Christmas tree (sense 2.5) at the top of a wellhead in North Dakota, USA.
A fire tree or moodjar (Nuytsia floribunda), also known as a Christmas tree (sense 4).
The pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa) is also known as the Christmas tree or New Zealand Christmas tree (sense 5).

From Christmas +‎ tree, a calque of German Weynacht Baum (obsolete, 17th c.), Weihnachtsbaum, from Weynacht, Weihnacht (literary or poetic variant of Weihnachten (“Christmas”)) + Baum (“tree”).[1]

Sense 3 (“Christmas party”) refers to the fact that there is usually a Christmas tree (sense 1) at the event.[1]

Pronunciation

Noun

Christmas tree (plural Christmas trees)

  2. 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.
    Synonyms: holiday tree, Yule tree
    Hypernym: tree
    Hyponyms: Charlie Brown Christmas tree, Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, Charlie Brown tree
    • 1994, Stephen Fry, chapter 2, in The Hippopotamus:
      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.
    • 2023 December 27, David Turner, “Silent lines...”, in RAIL, number 999, page 29:
      In 1958, it was reported that for "the fourth year in succession, staff of four South London stations have combined to decorate the booking hall at Peckham Rye station". They installed a nativity scene, models of Father Christmas, and a sleigh driven by huskies, and Christmas trees were placed around the station.
  3. (by extension) Something which resembles a Christmas tree (sense 1) in appearance (for example, in having coloured lights) or shape.
    1. (informal) Something which is elaborately decorated.
      • 1985, Forbes, volume 135:
        The modern infantryman is a Christmas tree of weaponry, with grenades and extra ammunition hanging from all parts of his upper body.
    2. (bodybuilding) A pattern of muscles visible in the lower back, resembling in outline the shape of a conifer.
      • 2013, Cory Gregory, “Get Jacked! The 1,000 Rep Workout”, in Fitness Rx, 11(4): 56:
        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.
    3. (military)
      1. (aviation, nautical, slang) A panel of indicator lights in an aircraft or a submarine.
        • 1954, Medicine and Surgery Bureau, A Bibliographic Sourcebook of Compressed Air, Diving and Submarine Medicine, page 121:
          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.
      3. (US, aviation, historical) An alert apron at an air base with aircraft parked in pads arranged at a 45-degree angle to a central road 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).
    5. (motor racing) A pole with lights, similar to a traffic signal, used for signalling the start of an automobile race.
      • 1990 January, Popular Mechanics, volume 167, number 1, page 96:
        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!
    7. (oil industry, slang) A collection of gauges, valves, and other components installed at the top of wellhead to control the flow of gas or oil.
      • 2011, Robert Heidersbach, Metallurgy and Corrosion Control in Oil and Gas Production, →ISBN, page 232:
        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
  5. (by extension) A Christmas party, especially one organized for (underprivileged) children by a charity, a school, etc.
  7. (Australia) Often 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).
  9. (New Zealand) Synonym 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”)
    Synonym: New Zealand Christmas tree

Alternative forms

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 “Christmas tree, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2024; “Christmas tree, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading

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