live oak

noun

: 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

Illustration of live oak
  • live oak a

Examples of live oak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cities and counties already expect higher debris collections each February and March, as live oaks lining city streets dump leaves and pollen ahead of spring. Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026 Their first project together was a series of nesting tables made from a coast live oak that had fallen on Grand Avenue in South Pasadena. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026 Heritage Grove will be anchored by a roughly 200-year-old live oak tree set within a community green space surrounded by about 35,000 square feet of restaurant and retail. Marissa Luck, Houston Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2026 Camping is available on the Camp Ben McCulloch grounds beneath live oaks and along Onion Creek. Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for live oak

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of live oak was in 1610

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Cite this Entry

“Live oak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20oak. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

live oak

noun
: 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

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