holly
holly
Definition
holly (häl′ē)
noun pl. -·lies
- any of a genus (Ilex) of small trees and shrubs of the holly family, with stiff, glossy, sharp-pointed leaves and clusters of bright-red berries
- the leaves and berries, used as Christmas ornaments
Etymology: ME holi, holin < OE holegn < IE base *kel-, to prick > Welsh celyn, holly, Sans kaṫambá-, arrow
adjective
designating a family (Aquifoliaceae, order Celastrales) of dicotyledonous trees and shrubs, including the dahoon and black alder
Holly
Definition
Holly (häl′ē)
noun
a feminine name
holly
Usage Examples
Converse of object
- see: I was off to see the Hollies for the second time in 9 days for the last gig of the spring run.
- include: Popular food plants include holly, ivy, cabbage, nasturtium, honesty, long grasses, cuckoo flower, blackthorn.
- have: They would have holly all around the room including hanging from the ceiling and they had lots of colors of ribbons.
- cut: There is a local tradition of gathering and storing birch twigs for winter fodder, and cutting fresh holly for winter feed.
- do: So did the holly and lights on the mirror.
- berry: There's a monkey puzzle tree in the field on your left and a yellow berried holly on the right.
Preposition: in
- concert: The Hollies - Concert Review Crawley, The Hawth, 23 rd March 2006 - by Rob Bird The Hollies in concert.
Adjective modifier
- variegated: One of the best golden variegated hollies, it's a great specimen plant for a sunny shrub, hedge or mixed border.
- green: My team of rats came rattling back With fifty bright guineas and an empty sack And a bunch of green holly and ivy.
- common: They are good, upright dense bushes with slightly smaller leaves than common holly.
- prickly: It isn't a good idea to plant prickly holly among your flower borders.
- evergreen: Yew and juniper, and the broadleaved evergreen holly are best grown in containers, and planted out when 2-3 years old.
- English: In time this English holly forms a tall conical tree - making a majestic, evergreen specimen plant for large gardens or parks.
Modifies a noun
- aquifolium: Hazel Corylus avellana and holly Ilex aquifolium often form a distinct shrub layer.
- ilex: Hazel Corylus avellana and holly Ilex aquifolium often form a distinct shrub layer.
- wreath: The incident in question related to a holly wreath on a Stromness property being set alight.
- bush: Or, how about the sound of a holly bush scraping past the players jacket.
- berry: The red holly berries represent the blood shed by him.
- hedge: Now go into the Alpine Garden hidden behind the holly hedge.
Noun used with modifier
- sea: The rich blues of the globe thistle and sea holly against the bold yellow of the yarrow is a sight to behold.
Browse dictionary entries near holly
- holloware
- hollow (out)
- hollow-eyed
- hollow
- hollo
- holler
- Hollands
- Hollandia
- hollandaise sauce
- holland
- hollyhock
- Hollywood
- Hollywood bed
- holm
- holm oak
- Holmes
- Holmes, E.T.
- holmium
- holo-
- holoblastic
