San ‧ ta Claus /ˈsæntə klɔːz $ ˈsænti klɒːz, ˈsæntə-/ BrE AmE ( also Santa ) noun [singular]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: Dutch ; Origin: Sinterklaas , from Sint Nikolaas 'Saint Nicholas' , patron saint of children ]
an imaginary old man with red clothes and a long white ↑ beard who, children believe, brings them presents at Christmas SYN Father Christmas British English