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live oak

American  
[lahyv] / laɪv /

noun

  1. an evergreen oak, Quercus virginiana, of the southern U.S., having a short, broad trunk and shiny, oblong leaves: the state tree of Georgia.

  2. any of various related trees.

  3. the hard, durable wood of any of these trees.


live oak British  
/ laɪv /

noun

  1. a hard-wooded evergreen oak, Quercus virginianus, of S North America: used for shipbuilding

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of live oak

An Americanism dating back to 1600–10


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

Other residents and helpers have been showing up to give what they can, adding everything from aloe plants to coast live oak saplings to a 7-foot Aleppo pine someone had potted in a bucket.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2025

Green-roofed cabins housing hundreds of campers and staff dotted the area, which is lush with cypress and live oak trees.

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2025

Krista Guerrero, an MWD resource specialist, said the agency would particularly love to see residents plant the coast live oak.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2024

Now a huge live oak identical to the one in the Durand’s courtyard sat in the corner, stretching out over Ella's bed.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

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