English Dictionary
Definition of “laurel”
laurel (ˈlɒrəl
)
Definitions
noun
- baytrue laurelany lauraceous tree of the genus any lauraceous tree of the genus Laurus , such as the bay tree (see baybay4) and any lauraceous tree of the genus , such as the bay tree (see ) and L. canariensis, of the Canary Islands and Azores
- any lauraceous plant
- short for cherry laurel
, mountain laurel
- See spurge laurel
- See spotted laurel
- (plural) a wreath of true laurel, worn on the head as an emblem of victory or honour in classical times
- (plural) honour, distinction, or fame
- See look to one's laurels
- See rest on one's laurels
verb
- (tr) to crown with laurels
Word Origin
C13 lorer, from Old French lorier laurel tree, ultimately from Latin laurus
Usage examples
Tom had the roses, unkempt, and the laurel hedge, uncut.
Butler, Gwendoline, Coffin on the Water (1986)Omar Farooq Abdullah, son of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, could have rested on the laurel of his victory last year.
India Today (1999)The winners of these events were crowned with laurel leaves by pretty young women and became local heroes.
Samachar (2004)Eryngium giganteum, for instance, are a glossy laurel green and you will need to leave a few of these in situ.
Times, Sunday Times (2002)In this account Apollo is a solar deity, and Daphne, the Greek for a laurel tree, was dawn.
Sanneh, Lamin, Encountering the West (1993)
