holly

noun

hol·​ly ˈhä-lē How to pronounce holly (audio)
plural hollies
1
: any of a genus (Ilex of the family Aquifoliaceae, the holly family) of trees and shrubs
especially : either of two (I. opaca of the eastern U.S. and I. aquifolium of Eurasia) with spiny-margined evergreen leaves and usually red berries often used for Christmas decorations
2
: the foliage or branches of the holly

Examples of holly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For other evergreens, like boxwoods and hollies, removing the branch tip or even cutting branches back drastically will force a buildup of growth hormone and carbohydrate energy reserves into the dormant buds beneath the cutoff point. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2024 Things are getting even cozier in the Northern California small town as Part Two of the Netflix series' fifth season hauls out the holly for their first ever holiday episodes. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2023 Capital Bee Company from Savannah will bring honeys including orange blossom, raspberry and holly, plus handcrafted honey soap, lip balms, body lotions and candles. Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Start with a real or artificial evergreen garland and give it an organic feel by tucking in eucalyptus, holly, or magnolia clippings. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2023 Mistletoe, poinsettias, English ivy, and holly can be dangerous to pets, with varying degrees of toxicity. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023 At 9 feet long, the red holly berries and flocked pine cones rest along deep green artificial pine needles. Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2023 Then cut the bows off and weave in sprigs of juniper, holly and eucalyptus to make the garland look fuller and more varied. Tim McKeough, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023 Instead, experiment with different tints and shades to curate a holly jolly aesthetic. Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'holly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English holin, holly, from Old English holen; akin to Old High German hulis holly, Middle Irish cuilenn

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of holly was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near holly

Cite this Entry

“Holly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holly. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

holly

noun
hol·​ly ˈhäl-ē How to pronounce holly (audio)
plural hollies
1
: either of two trees or shrubs of which one is found in the eastern U.S. and the other in Eurasia and which have evergreen leaves with spiny margins and usually bright red berries
2
: the leaves, berries, and branches of the holly

Medical Definition

holly

see sea holly

More from Merriam-Webster on holly

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