mistletoe

noun

mis·​tle·​toe ˈmi-səl-ˌtō 

 chiefly British  ˈmi-zəl-

: a European semiparasitic green shrub (Viscum album of the family Santalaceae, the sandalwood family) with thick leaves, small yellowish flowers, and waxy-white glutinous berries

broadly : any of various plants of the sandalwood family (as of an American genus Phoradendron) resembling the true mistletoe

Illustration of mistletoe

Examples of mistletoe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tis the season for romance under the mistletoe and the game is starting strong thanks to The Queen of the Christmas Romance, Lacey Chabert. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024

The pack contains four 12-ounce candles with season-perfect scents: cinnamon pumpkin chai, sapphire cashmere, heirloom apple grove, and mistletoe frost. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2024

In an atmosphere of holly, mistletoe, brandy-snapping, and turkey, many differences can be forgotten, many old feuds wiped out. —Nancy Mitford, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2023

Instead, experts consider mistletoe as hemiparasitic. —Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 23 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mistilto, from Old English misteltān, from mistel mistletoe + tān twig; akin to Old High German & Old Saxon mistil mistletoe and to Old High German zein twig

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mistletoe

noun

mis·​tle·​toe ˈmis-əl-ˌtō 

: a European plant with yellowish flowers and waxy white berries that grows on the branches and trunks of trees

also : any of various related plants that resemble the mistletoe

Medical Definition

mistletoe

noun

mis·​tle·​toe

ˈmis-əl-ˌtō, chiefly British ˈmiz-

: any of various parasitic or semiparasitic plants (family Loranthaceae, the mistletoe family) that have thick leathery mostly opposite and sometimes scaly leaves and include some formerly used in preparations with oxytocic, antispasmodic, or heart-stimulating properties: as

a

: a European semiparasitic green shrub (Viscum album) having somewhat poisonous leaves, stems, and waxy-white glutinous berries that have been used in folk medicine

b

: any of various American plants (genus Phoradendron and especially P. serotinum synonym P. flavescens) resembling the true mistletoe of Europe