red oak

American  

noun

1. any of several oak trees, as Quercus rubra, or Q. falcata, of North America.

2. the hard, cross-grained wood of these trees.

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red oak British  

noun

1. any of several deciduous oak trees, esp Quercus borealis , native to North America, having bristly leaves with triangular lobes and acorns with small cups

2. the hard cross-grained reddish wood of this tree

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Etymology

Origin of red oak

An Americanism dating back to 1625–35

Example Sentences

Conversely, the U.S. native red oak has invaded parts of Europe, he said.

From Scientific American • May 5, 2023

Each acorn was painted with colored bands to indicate its species: red oak, bur oak, black oak, white oak, swamp white oak, scarlet oak, pin oak, willow oak.

From New York Times • Nov. 25, 2022

I may yet find one last flush of shiitakes stair-stepping up the side of an old stump, feeding themselves on the rich red oak.

From Salon • Nov. 24, 2022

In 2016, when a red oak was planted on the Capitol grounds in Roybal’s memory, Roybal-Allard told The Times her late father was often on her mind at work.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2021

He would lie up on the red oak limbs and watch every move I made.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls