santa
n. countablen. the legendary figure who brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve. You often see him wearing a red suit and a white beard.
n. the folkloric figure traditionally depicted as a white-bearded man in a red suit who delivers presents to children on Christmas Eve. Often used as a proper name without an article.
The children left some cookies and milk for Santa.
Every December, the local mall hires a professional actor to dress as Santa and take photos with families.
The modern visual identity of Santa was solidified through mid-century advertising, though the character's roots trace back to much older European traditions of Saint Nicholas.
Derived from Spanish Santa (“saint”).
Usually functions as a proper noun and is capitalized; when used as a common noun, it refers to someone dressed as the character.