live oak

noun

ˈlīv- How to pronounce live oak (audio)
: 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.
Large live oaks and bald cypress seem to be good survivors. — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 May 2026 Last month, the first nursery launched at EF with 30 trees — coast live oaks and sycamores. — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026 Levee Porch will offer a shaded porch and walk-up bar with steps leading down to a beer garden beneath live oak trees near the river. — Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 June 2026 What to do nearby Oglethorpe Avenue is one of Savannah’s prettiest streets, lined with live oak trees and handsome mansions. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 June 2026 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

Rhymes for live oak

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Browse Nearby Words

liveness
live oak
live-oaker
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Cite this Entry

“Live oak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20oak. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

live oak

noun
ˈlī-ˌvōk How to pronounce live oak (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on live oak

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about live oak

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