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

Compared to rugged California live oaks, the Palmer oak looks more like a shrub and is made up of individual stems sprouting in a grove. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2024

The park is home to the oldest grove of live oaks in the world, some of which are estimated to be more than 700 years old. —Mitti Hicks, Essence, 28 June 2024

The park is known for its shaded paths, ancient live oaks, and limestone rock beach. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 26 June 2024

Why is bark falling off my live oaks in big sheets? —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined above

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