plural hollies
1
: any of a genus (Ilex of the family Aquifoliaceae, the holly family) of trees and shrubs
especially
: either of two (I. opaca of the eastern U.S. and I. aquifolium of Eurasia) with spiny-margined evergreen leaves and usually red berries often used for Christmas decorations
2
: the foliage or branches of the holly
Examples of holly in a Sentence
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Watering And Moisture Management Managing soil moisture is also an important part of protecting plant roots as well as broadleaf evergreens such as hollies, camellias, and boxwoods.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025
Other female hollies also have berries, along with nandinas and skimmia.
—Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Trees and shrubs that bear fruit persisting into winter, such as hollies, many viburnums, hawthorns, staghorn sumac, and wax myrtle, provide natural food sources for birds.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024
Flavor Flav did not have a holly jolly time at Wednesday night’s (Dec. 4) Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2024
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025
Other female hollies also have berries, along with nandinas and skimmia.
—Janet B. Carson, arkansasonline.com, 3 Jan. 2025
Trees and shrubs that bear fruit persisting into winter, such as hollies, many viburnums, hawthorns, staghorn sumac, and wax myrtle, provide natural food sources for birds.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2024
Flavor Flav did not have a holly jolly time at Wednesday night’s (Dec. 4) Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for holly
Dictionary Entries Near holly
Cite this Entry
“Holly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holly. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
holly
noun
hol·ly
ˈhäl-ē 
plural hollies
1
: either of two trees or shrubs of which one is found in the eastern U.S. and the other in Eurasia and which have evergreen leaves with spiny margins and usually bright red berries
2
: the leaves, berries, and branches of the holly
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