mistletoe

UK: /ˈmɪs^əltəʊ/ US: /ˈmɪsəlˌtoʊ/ ,(mis′əl tō′)

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

mis•tle•toe /ˈmɪsəlˌtoʊ/   n. [uncountable]

1. Plant Biology a plant having yellowish flowers and white berries used in Christmas decorations:
   If you stand under mistletoe, anyone wishing to do so may kiss you.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mis•tle•toe  (mis′əl tō′), n. 

1. Plant Biology a European plant, Viscum album, having yellowish flowers and white berries, growing parasitically on various trees, used in Christmas decorations.
2. Plant Biology any of several other related, similar plants, as Phoradendron serotinum, of the U.S.: the state flower of Oklahoma.

• bef. 1000; Middle English mistelto, apparently back formation from Old English misteltān (mistel mistletoe, basil + tān twig), the -n being taken as plural ending; cognate with Old Norse mistilteinn

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mistletoe / ˈmɪs^əlˌtəʊ/ noun

1. a Eurasian evergreen shrub, Viscum album, with leathery leaves, yellowish flowers, and waxy white berries: grows as a partial parasite on various trees: used as a Christmas decoration: family Viscaceae
2. any of several similar and related American plants in the families Loranthaceae or Viscaceae, esp Phoradendron flavescens

Etymology: Old English misteltān, from mistel mistletoe + tān twig; related to Old Norse mistilteinn