holm oak

noun

1. an evergreen oak, Quercus ilex, of southern Europe, having foliage resembling that of the holly.

holm oak

noun

1. an evergreen Mediterranean oak tree, Quercus ilex, widely planted for ornament: the leaves are holly-like when young but become smooth-edged with age Also calledholmholly oakilex

Word History and Origins

Origin of holm oak¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

For each protein, he pairs a fuel with the precision of a sommelier, selecting holm oak for delicate shellfish and turning to heartier vine wood for red meats.

From New York Times

Purple crocus flowers bloomed in groves of holm oak, and broom shrubs burst with yellow blooms.

From Washington Post

Though it is mostly wild — a tangle of holm oaks, palms and flowering acanthuses intersected by a few winding trails — at its center is a romantic neo-Classical marble fountain carved in the early 1800s.

From New York Times

Flames ran through hectares of cork and holm oak forests that are native to the region.

From New York Times

Alice, holding Lyra, had retreated further up the slope, but the open space was not very large: close-branched holm oaks with spiked leaves crowded in on all sides.

From Literature