X·mas

(krĭs′məs, ĕks′məs)

Christmas.

[From X, the Greek letter chi, first letter of Greek Khrīstos, Christ; see Christ.]

Usage Note: The pronunciation (ĕks′məs) is the result of a misinterpretation of the abbreviation Xmas, where the X actually represents a Greek chi, the first letter of Khrīstos, "Christ." This pronunciation is informal.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Xmas

(ˈɛksməs; ˈkrɪsməs)

(Ecclesiastical Terms) informal short for Christmas

[C16: from symbol X for Christ + -mas]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Xmas

(ˈkrɪs məs; often ˈɛks məs)

Christmas.

usage: The abbreviation Xmas for Christmas dates from the mid-16th cent. The X is the Greek letter chi, the initial in the word Χριστός (Christos) “Christ.” In spite of a long and respectable history, today Xmas is objectionable to many, perhaps because of its associations with advertising. It is not used in formal writing.

Xmas

(ˈkrisməs)

short for Christmas.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

Xmas - a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland

Christmas Day, Dec 25, Christmas

quarter day - a Christian holy day; one of four specified days when certain payments are due

feast day, fete day - a day designated for feasting

holy day of obligation - a day when Catholics must attend Mass and refrain from servile work, and Episcopalians must take Communion

legal holiday, national holiday, public holiday - authorized by law and limiting work or official business

Dec, December - the last (12th) month of the year

Xmas

noun Christmas, Noel, festive season, Yule (archaic), Yuletide (archaic), Christmastime, Christmastide, Crimbo (Brit. informal) It would be nice to have my dad home for Xmas.

Quotations
"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house"
"Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse" [Clement C. Moore A Visit from St. Nicholas]

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

كريسماس

Vánoce

jul

joulu

Božić

クリスマス

크리스마스

božič

jul

คริสต์มาส

Noel

Lễ Giáng sinh

圣诞节

Xmas

[ˈɛksməs ˈkrɪsməs] n abbr (=Christmas) → Noël mX-rated [ˌɛksˈreɪtɪd] adj (US) (formerly) [film] → interdit(e) aux moins de 17 ansX-ray [ˌɛksˈreɪ]

(= radiation) → rayon m X

(= photograph) → radio f, radiographie f
to take an X-ray of sth → faire une radio de qch

(= examination) → radio f, radiographie f
to have an X-ray → se faire faire une radio, passer une radio

modif [machine, equipment, department] → de radiologie

vt [+ arm, chest] → faire une radio de, radiographier; [+ person] → faire une radio à, radiographier; [+ baggage] → passer aux rayons X
They X-rayed my arm → Ils m'ont fait une radio du bras.

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Xmas

n = Christmas → Weihnachten nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Xmas

→ كريسماس Vánoce jul Weihnachten Χριστούγεννα Navidades joulu Noël Božić Natale クリスマス 크리스마스 Kerstmis jul Boże Narodzenie Natal Рождество jul คริสต์มาส Noel Lễ Giáng sinh 圣诞节

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

X is the sacred symbol of ten dollars, and in such words as Xmas, Xn, etc., stands for Christ, not, as is popular supposed, because it represents a cross, but because the corresponding letter in the Greek alphabet is the initial of his name -- Xristos .

View in context

"Dearest Hetty: I don't think I can do exactly what you want, as I must spend Xmas with Mamma at Chiswick; but I need not get there until Xmas Eve, and we break up here on yesterday week, the

So I will go straight to you and bring you with me to Mamma's, where you will spend Xmas much better than moping in a strange house.

View in context

Whoever wants to shoot terrific iPhone photos with the help of a free DJI Osmo Mobile 2 and Olloclips's lenses, to print groupfies instantly with a free Lifeprint Instant Print Camera, or to flexibly manage thousands of iPhone panoramas, bursts, selfies, live photos, screenshots, should never miss this Xmas giveaway!

DearMob offers gifts, photography accessories sweepstakes to iPhone photographers

ALL TOGETHER NOW CELEBRITY SPECIAL XMAS EVE, BBC1, 7.15pm THE fun entertainment show - which challenges singers to get all 100 judges, including Geri Horner, on their feet - brings us this celeb edition.

Me, my elf and I

(Why does it always snow at the last minute on Xmas Eve in EastEnders?

First things first

And Kate Quilton tests how much alcohol is in our Xmas dinner.

MONDAY; DECEMBER 17

Tom Whiston Loads of company's seem to do this just before Xmas. Must have something to do with the tax bills they have to pay in January.

WEBCHAT; GoCompare lays off 'about 20' people just before Christmas

Xmas trees and churches were decorated and illuminated by the Christians in Sialkot, Uggoki, Sambrial, Daska, Bhopalwala, Aadha, Pasrur, Badiana, Chawinda and surrounding areas.

Christians celebrate Xmas in Sialkot

What did you enjoy most about filming the Xmas special?

The festive low-down from cast of the smash-hit period drama

"Fall and the holidays are upon us and that means it's time for ugly sweaters, awkward office parties, and How The Edge Stole Xmas," said Jay Shannon, Program Director at The Edge."We are excited to welcome back our friends in Weezer, Awolnation and all the other great bands to our party and know it will be a great show for our listeners."

Find Out How the Edge Stole Christmas