live oak

US/laɪv oʊk/

noun

An evergreen species of oak characteristic of the US South, southern live oak (Quercus virginiana).

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Meanings

live oak1

nounlive oak (plural live oaks)

plural live oaks · alternative live-oak

  1. An evergreen species of oak characteristic of the US South, southern live oak (Quercus virginiana).

    This was a group of white-shirted, khaki-trousered, suspendered old men who had spent their lives doing nothing and passed their twilight days doing same on pine benches under the live oaks on the square.

    1960 July 11, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC
  2. Any of several other species of oak with evergreen, usually holly-like, leaves.

Live Oak2

proper noun
  1. A census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States.
  2. A city in Sutter County, California, United States.
  3. A city, the county seat of Suwannee County, Florida, United States.
  4. A city in Bexar County, Texas, United States.

Origin

So called because such oaks remain green and "live" throughout winter, when others are dormant and leafless.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish ainavihanta tammi, tammi
  • ainavihanta tammievergreen species of oak
  • tammievergreen species of oak
Irish dair shíorghlas
  • dair shíorghlasevergreen species of oak
Cite this entry
APA

live oak. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20oak

MLA

“live oak.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20oak. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “live oak,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20oak.

Source: live oak on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.