mistletoe

[ mis-uhl-toh ]

noun

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

mistletoe

/ ˈmɪsəlˌtəʊ /

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
3. mistletoe cactus
   an epiphytic cactus, Rhipsalis cassytha, that grows in tropical America

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistletoe¹

before 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistletoe¹

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

Example Sentences

The goal was identifying the moments that viewers expect from Hallmark’s pleasingly formulaic programming — the apology, the kiss under the mistletoe — and finding a way to “gamify” them, Bennett says.

From Los Angeles Times

A stage version of “9 to 5” landed in 2009 starring Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty and Allison Janney, and the 1993 Christmas special “Candles, Snow & Mistletoe” contained her song “With Bells On.”

From Seattle Times

This will not be Parton’s first Broadway venture: She wrote the music and lyrics for the 2009 musical “9 to 5,” which was adapted from a film in which she starred, and in 1993 one of her songs was featured in a Broadway holiday show called “Candles, Snow & Mistletoe.”

From New York Times

Here’s how experts say we should prepare for mistletoe season.

From Los Angeles Times

Here’s how the experts say we should prepare as we move into mistletoe season.

From Los Angeles Times