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Glite Dictionary
Quercus alba

Quercus alba

8.6
A large slow-growing North American tree with rounded leaves, acorns, and strong wood
  • noun
  • /ˈkwɜrkəs ˈɑlbə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Quercus alba
  • Many parks in the eastern United States feature mature specimens of Quercus alba as prominent shade trees.

Examples

  • The sturdy wood of the Quercus alba is highly prized for furniture and flooring.

  • Botanists identified the ancient tree as a Quercus alba based on its leaves and acorns.

  • The Quercus alba is often found in the eastern United States.

  • Have you ever seen a Quercus alba in the wild?

  • Many parks in the eastern United States feature mature specimens of Quercus alba as prominent shade trees.

  • The sturdy wood of the Quercus alba is highly prized for furniture and flooring.

  • Botanists identified the ancient tree as a Quercus alba based on its leaves and acorns.

Synonyms

American white oak
vsQuercus alba
  • US
5.8

A large slow-growing tree from eastern North America with strong wood and leaves with rounded lobes

is the Latin scientific name used in formal or botanical contexts

Surface Forms

Quercus alba singular
Quercus albas plural

Morphology

Quercus + alba

This is a Latin binomial composed of Quercus (the oak genus) and alba (Latin for 'white'), so the referent 'white oak' is directly derivable from the constituents. Although botanical Latin is specialised, if a learner knows both parts and the convention that species epithets describe a trait, the meaning is transparently compositional.

Etymology

Quercus alba comes from Latin words: Quercus means 'oak' and alba means 'white'. So the name simply says 'white oak' and points to the tree's pale bark and light wood, which is why it names this strong tree with hard wood.