Christmas tree

noun12

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.

   • "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
2. •
   Something which resembles a Christmas tree in appearance (for example, in having coloured lights) or shape.
3. •
   A pattern of muscles visible in the lower back, resembling in outline the shape of a conifer.
4. •
   A 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
5. •
   A collection of gauges, valves, and other components installed at the top of wellhead to control the flow of gas or oil.
6. •
   A 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
7. •
   (informal) Something 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
8. •
   (slang) A panel of indicator lights in an aircraft or a submarine.
9. •
   (US, historical) An 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 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
10. •
    (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).

    • 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
11. •
    (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”)
12. •
    A 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