Mistletoe Definition

mĭsəl-tō
noun
Any of various evergreen plants (genera Phoradendron and Viscum) of the mistletoe family, parasitic on deciduous or evergreen trees, with small, yellowish-green leaves, yellowish flowers, and shiny, white, poisonous berries.
Webster's New World
A sprig of such a plant, hung as a Christmas decoration: by custom, people kiss when standing under it.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
  • Viscum album
  • Old World mistletoe
  • false mistletoe
  • Loranthus europaeus
adjective
Designating a family (Loranthaceae, order Santalales) of parasitic, dicotyledonous shrubs and small trees.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Mistletoe

Noun

Singular:
mistletoe
Plural:
mistletoes

Origin of Mistletoe

  • Middle English mistelto back-formation from Old English misteltān (tān) (taken for pl. of toe) mistel mistletoe meigh- in Indo-European roots tān twig

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Old English misteltān, from mistel "˜mistletoe' + tān "˜twig'. Compare mistle.

    From Wiktionary

Mistletoe Is Also Mentioned In

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to mistletoe using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

mistletoe