Holly

UK: /ˈhɒli/ US: /ˈhɑli/ ,(hol′ē)

Inflections of 'holly' (n): npl: hollies

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Holly / ˈhɒlɪ/ noun

1. Buddy, real name Charles Harden Holley. 1936–59, US rock-and-roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His hits (all 1956–59) include "That'll be the Day", "Maybe Baby", "Peggy Sue", "Oh, Boy", "Think It Over", and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hol•ly /ˈhɑli/   n., pl. -lies. 

1. Plant Biology [countable] a tree or shrub with glossy leaves and red berries.
2. Plant Biology [uncountable] the leaves and berries of this tree or shrub.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hol•ly  (hol′ē), n., pl. -lies. 

1. Plant Biology any of numerous trees or shrubs of the genus Ilex, as I. opaca (American holly,) the state tree of Delaware, or I. aquifolium (English holly,) having glossy, spiny-toothed leaves, small, whitish flowers, and red berries.
2. Plant Biology the foliage and berries, used for decoration, esp. during the Christmas season.

• Old High German hulis)
• bef. 1150; Middle English holi(e), holyn, Old English hole(g)n; cognate with Welsh celyn, Irish cuillean; akin to Dutch, German hulst, French houx (

Hol•ly  (hol′ē), n. 

1. a female or male given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

holly / ˈhɒlɪ/ noun ( -lies)

1. any tree or shrub of the genus Ilex, such as the Eurasian I. aquifolium, having bright red berries and shiny evergreen leaves with prickly edges
2. branches of any of these trees, used for Christmas decorations
3. holly oak ⇒
   another name for holm oak

See also sea hollyEtymology: Old English holegn; related to Old Norse hulfr, Old High German hulis, German Hulst, Old Slavonic kolja prick