scrub oak

noun

: any of various chiefly American oaks (such as Quercus ilicifolia of the northeastern U.S.) of small size and usually shrubby habit

Examples of scrub oak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The coastal forest consists of scrub oaks and magnolias. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2025 Nuttall’s scrub oak, which grows in San Diego County, was picked for the project because it is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2025 The fire ignited Saturday afternoon and is burning in dense scrub oak, primarily in the San Juan National Forest east of U.S. 550. Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 28 July 2025 As California quail darted through scrub oaks, Seidenberg foraged for various ingredients—purple sage, yerba santa, manzanita berries—to create celebratory mocktails. David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for scrub oak

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scrub oak was in 1766

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Cite this Entry

“Scrub oak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrub%20oak. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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