oak — ODE · Shobdo

oak /əʊk

▸ noun

1 (also oak tree) a large tree which bears acorns and typically has lobed deciduous leaves. Oaks are dominant in many north temperate forests and are an important source of durable timber used in building, furniture, and (formerly) ships.

Genus Quercus, family Fagaceae: many species, including the deciduous common oak or English oak (Q. robur), and the evergreen holm oak.

▪ [mass noun] a smoky flavour or nose characteristic of wine aged in barrels made from oak wood:

scents of toasty oak

[as modifier] soft oak overtones.

▪ mainly Australian English used in names of other trees or plants that resemble the oaks in some way, e.g. she-oak, silky oak.

2 (the Oaks) an annual flat horse race for three-year-old fillies run on Epsom Downs, over the same course as the Derby. It was first run in 1779.

[named after a nearby estate]

▪ [usually with modifier] a flat horse race similar to the Oaks but run on another course:

the Irish Oaks.

– PHRASES

mighty oaks from little acorns grow (also great oaks from little acorns grow) proverb
something of small or modest dimensions may grow into something very large or impressive.

sport the oak (also sport one's oak) British English dated
(in certain universities) shut the wooden outer door of one's room as a sign that one does not want to be disturbed.

– DERIVATIVES

oaky /ˈəʊki

/ adjective

( oakier, oakiest)

– ORIGIN Old English āc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eik and German Eiche.