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.
The 17-mile-long strip of land remains largely in its natural state, populated by dense maritime forest of live oaks, saw palmetto, sabal palms, and pines. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 May 2025 The king of native plant and tree species in Houston and across the South is the enormous live oak tree. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024 With its rolling hills, shady live oaks, and thriving equestrian scene, Ocala already has bucolic appeal. Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 14 May 2025 Pollen on the cars came mostly from live oak and also pine, palm, mango — typical trees in South Florida. Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025 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 5 Jun. 2025.

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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