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 live oaks saved people’s homes and acted like a canopy of fire retardant. —Erica Zora Wrightson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

The live oaks, heavy with Spanish moss and surrounded by palm trees, evoke a quintessential Southern vibe. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026

Camping is available on the Camp Ben McCulloch grounds beneath live oaks and along Onion Creek. —Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026

After you’re done with your stroll, head south to walk among the live oaks in Columbia Square. —Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 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