holly Hear it!

holly Definition

holly (hälē)

noun pl. -·lies

  1. 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
  2. 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 (hälē)

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

  1. holloware
  2. hollow (out)
  3. hollow-eyed
  4. hollow
  5. hollo
  6. holler
  7. Hollands
  8. Hollandia
  9. hollandaise sauce
  10. holland
  1. hollyhock
  2. Hollywood
  3. Hollywood bed
  4. holm
  5. holm oak
  6. Holmes
  7. Holmes, E.T.
  8. holmium
  9. holo-
  10. holoblastic