Christmas

English
Nativity scene depicted using Christmas lights

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English Cristemasse, from Old English Cristes mæsse (literally “Christ's mass”). By surface analysis, Christ +‎ -mas.

Pronunciation
  • (Received Pronunciation, General American) enPR: krĭsʹməs, IPA(key): /ˈkɹɪsməs/
  • Audio (GA)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪsməs
  • Hyphenation: Christ‧mas

Proper noun

Christmas (countable and uncountable, plural Christmases or Christmasses)

  1. A festival/holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and incorporating various Christian, pre-Christian, pagan and secular customs, which is celebrated on December 25 in most places.
    Do you celebrate Christmas?
    This Christmas we'll open presents then go to grandma's for dinner.
  2. The Twelve Days of Christmas: Christmastide; the season (traditionally from the 24th of December to the 6th of January) around the holiday.
  3. A personification of Christmas.
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  4. (marketing, retailing) The Christmas season, variously defined as the period from the Friday following Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, or the end of the year period, when consumers shop and prepare for Christmas.
    The last three Christmases have been good for retailers.
    Christmas shoppers spent less this December, than last year, but our store will probably see just as many returned items during the twelve days of Christmas.
  5. A surname.
  6. A number of places in the United States:
    1. An uninhabited mining community in Gila County, Arizona.
    2. A census-designated place in Orange County, Florida.
    3. An unincorporated community in Au Train Township, Alger County, Michigan.
    4. An unincorporated community in Bolivar County, Mississippi

Synonyms

Derived terms

Descendants

Translations

Adjective

Christmas (not comparable)

  1. (US) Red and green (traditional Christmas colors), especially red and green chile sauce in New Mexican cuisine.

See also

(associated entries):

Anagrams

Scots

Noun

Christmas

  1. Christmas present
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