holly

Everyday

1. An evergreen bush or tree with shiny, prickly dark green leaves and bright red berries in winter. tree →
2. Its branches used to decorate homes and churches at Christmas. tree →

In the lessons

In nature lessons it is an evergreen plant that keeps its leaves in winter; birds eat its berries. At Christmas it decorates houses, wreaths and cards; in the carol «The Holly and the Ivy» Christians link it to Jesus. Phrases: holly and ivy, a sprig of holly, holly berries, holly wreath.

Examples

• We decorated the front door with a holly wreath. tree →
• Holly leaves are shiny and prickly. tree →
• Birds eat the red holly berries in winter. tree →
• The carol «The Holly and the Ivy» is sung at Christmas. tree →
• Be careful picking holly; the leaves are sharp. tree →
• A sprig of holly sat on top of the Christmas pudding. tree →
• They sat down under a holly tree and both poured forth their woes. tree →

Note

Plural: hollies. Holly berries are poisonous to people; do not eat them. Also a girl's name (Holly). Do not confuse with «holy» (sacred), which has one l.