live oak

noun

ˈlīv- 

: any of several American evergreen oaks: such as

a

: a medium-sized oak (Quercus virginiana) of southeastern North America often cultivated as a shelter and shade tree and noted for its extremely hard tough durable wood

b

: any of several oaks of the western U.S. with evergreen foliage and hard durable wood

Illustration of live oak

• live oak a

Examples of live oak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The front porch of Brown’s childhood home had been framed by a pair of live oaks, a reminder of the importance of perseverance and deep roots. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026

Enjoy The Hiking And Biking Trails A walk through the gardens is easy thanks to wide walking paths that wind past azaleas, ferns, bromeliads, large live oaks, and a reflection pond. — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 30 June 2026

On most Friday evenings at Solo Vino wine shop in Aiken, South Carolina, a large group of locals and visitors gathers to share food and wine at long communal tables beneath the sprawling branches of Southern live oak trees. — Liz Thach, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

One of the nation’s largest urban parks, this 1,300-acre expanse has golf, paddleboats, a live oak estimated to be 800 years old, a botanical garden, and the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). — Jenny Adams, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for live oak

• artichoke
• nanticoke
• womenfolk
• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk

Kids Definition

live oak

noun

ˈlī-ˌvōk 

: any of several American oaks with evergreen leaves and hard durable wood

especially : one of the southeastern U.S. that is grown for its shelter and shade and formerly much used in building ships