live oak

/lɪv oʊk/

Other forms: live oaks

Definitions of live oak

1. noun

   any of several American evergreen oaks
   types:

   California live oak, Quercus agrifolia, coast live oak

   highly variable often shrubby evergreen oak of coastal zone of western North America having small thick usually spiny-toothed dark-green leaves

   Quercus chrysolepis, canyon live oak, canyon oak, iron oak, maul oak

   medium-sized evergreen of southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico with oblong leathery often spiny-edged leaves

   Quercus virginiana, southern live oak

   medium-sized evergreen native to eastern North America to the east coast of Mexico; often cultivated as shade tree for it wide-spreading crown; extremely hard tough durable wood once used in shipbuilding

   Quercus wislizenii, Quercus wizlizenii, interior live oak

   a small shrubby evergreen tree of western North America similar to the coast live oak but occurring chiefly in foothills of mountain ranges removed from the coast; an important part of the chaparral

   type of:

   oak, oak tree

   a deciduous tree of the genus Quercus; has acorns and lobed leaves