holly-leaved oak

9.0

A tree that keeps leaves all year and has hard wood and spiny dark green leaves like holly

noun

: roble de hoja de acebo

The leaves of the holly-leaved oak are spiny and dark green, similar to those of holly trees.

Examples

Because of its dense, hard wood, the holly-leaved oak is valued by woodworkers.
The holly-leaved oak is often planted in parks for its attractive foliage.
The holly-leaved oak is a beautiful tree.
Many gardeners love the holly-leaved oak for its unique leaves.
The holly-leaved oak is prized for its durable wood, making it a favorite among furniture makers.
This holly-leaved oak stands out in the garden with its spiny leaves that shimmer in the sunlight.
You can recognize the holly-leaved oak by its distinct leaves that closely resemble those of traditional holly.

Synonyms

Quercus ilex

vsholly-leaved oak

Specialized

9.9

An evergreen oak tree from southern Europe with leaves like holly

is the common descriptive name rather than the scientific species name

holm tree

vsholly-leaved oak

9.9

A large evergreen oak tree with dark sharp leaves and very hard wood

is the general descriptive name rather than this regional term

holm oak

vsholly-leaved oak

9.1

An evergreen tree with leaves like holly that grows in Mediterranean regions

is the broader descriptive name rather than this specific regional form

holm

vsholly-leaved oak

9.9

An evergreen oak tree with shiny leaves

is the standard descriptive name rather than a dialectal variant

Surface Forms

holly-leaved oak singular

holly-leaved oaks plural

Morphology

holly-leaved + oak

The phrase is a straightforward descriptive compound: an oak tree whose leaves resemble those of holly. A B1 learner who knows 'holly', 'leaf/leaved', and 'oak' can directly infer this meaning because the modifier simply describes leaf shape, following a common and transparent adjective+noun pattern.

Etymology

Holly-leaved oak is named for its leaves: this oak has dark, spiny leaves that look like holly, so people called it a holly-leaved oak. That's why the name shows it is an oak with holly-like leaves and hard wood used by woodworkers.