possum oak

9.8

A tall tree with leaves that fall in winter, grown in the southeastern United States for shade in wet soil

noun
/ˈpɑsəm oʊk/

: roble de agua

Many homeowners in Georgia prefer the possum oak for its tolerance of damp ground and attractive foliage.

Examples

Wetland restoration projects in the South often include planting possum oaks to stabilize the soil.
The possum oak provides ample shade in the park during the hot summer months.
The possum oak provides excellent shade during the summer.
Many possum oaks thrive in wet soil environments.
Many homeowners in Georgia prefer the possum oak for its tolerance of damp ground and attractive foliage.
The possum oak provides ample shade in the park during the hot summer months.
Wetland restoration projects in the South often include planting possum oaks to stabilize the soil.

Synonyms

oak tree

vspossum oak

34 1.0

A large strong tree with leaves that have deep rounded edges and small nuts called acorns

is a specific tall southeastern species often grown for shade in wet soils

water oak

vspossum oak

1 4.8

A tall oak tree that loses its leaves, grows in wet ground, and gives good shade

is the more formal species name rather than the everyday label

Quercus nigra

vspossum oak

Specialized

9.0

A type of oak tree from the southeastern United States that loses its leaves and grows in wet soil

is the common tall southeastern tree grown for shade in wet soils

Surface Forms

possum oak singular

possum oaks plural

Morphology

possum + oak

The compound 'possum oak' is a straightforward noun–noun composition where 'oak' names the head (a type of tree) and 'possum' specifies or associates that kind; a learner who knows 'possum' and 'oak' will infer it denotes a particular kind of oak tree related to possums. While fine-grained botanical details (e.g., being tall or preferring wet soil) are not predictable from the constituents, the basic meaning 'a kind of oak tree' is transparently derivable.

Etymology

Possum oak may come from the way the small animal possum often used the large oak for food and shelter. People saw possums in these trees in damp ground, so the name came to mean this tall oak used for shade.