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Definition of bur oak

bur oak

Plural:bur oaks
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bur oak Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American A large, resilient, deciduous tree native to eastern and midwestern North America, characterized by its massive acorns with deep, fringed, bur-like cups and its thick, fire-resistant bark.

Example

"Conservationists planted several bur oaks to restore the native savanna ecosystem, knowing the mature trees could easily withstand occasional prairie fires."

Word Nuance & Usage

Also frequently spelled 'burr oak', this species is commonly known as the mossycup oak due to the distinctive fringed rim around its acorns.

• Nearby Words

bunting
buoy
buphthalmum
bur oak
burbot
burdekin
burdock

Word Origin & Etymology

The name derives from the rough, prickly, bur-like fringe that encases the cup of the tree's large acorns. It is a prominent member of the white oak group, native to North America.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bur oak. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bur oak
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