red oak

noun

1

: any of various North American oaks (such as Quercus rubra and Quercus falcata) that have acorns with the inner surface of the shell lined with woolly hairs, the acorn cap covered with thin scales, and leaf veins that usually run beyond the margin of the leaf to form bristles

2

: the wood of a red oak

Examples of red oak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Compact oaks like columnar English, dwarf chinkapin, and Texas red oak suit small spaces. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2026

White oak acorns can begin germinating in fall, while red oak acorns typically wait until spring. — Tricia Goss, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2026

There are theories about that too, the most prominent of which relates to the higher level of tannic acid present in red oak acorns. — Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 2 Sep. 2026

At the west end of the hall is the reception room — finished in red oak flooring that creaks with each step — where guests could await their host. — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for red oak

• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• menfolk
• provoke

Kids Definition

red oak

noun

1

: any of various North American oaks with acorns that take two years to mature and leaves with bristles on the edge

2

: the wood of a red oak