Adjacent Words

Laurel definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LAU'REL, n. [L. laurus.]
The bay-tree or Laurus, a genus of plants of several species.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family
2: United States slapstick comedian (born in England) who played the scatterbrained and often tearful member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1890-1965) [syn: Laurel, Stan Laurel, Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel]
3: (antiquity) a wreath of laurel foliage worn on the head as an emblem of victory [syn: laurel, laurel wreath, bay wreath]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English lorel, in part from Medieval Latin laureola spurge laurel (from Latin, laurel sprig), in part modification of Anglo-French lorer, from Old French lor laurel, from Latin laurus Date: 14th century 1. an evergreen shrub or tree (Laurus nobilis of the family Lauraceae, the laurel family) of southern Europe with small yellow flowers, fruits that are ovoid blackish berries, and evergreen foliage once used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games — called also bay, sweet bay 2. a tree or shrub that resembles the true laurel; especially mountain laurel 3. a. a crown of laurel awarded as an honor b. a recognition of achievement ; honor — usually used in plural II. transitive verb (-reled or -relled; -reling or -relling) Date: 1631 to deck or crown with laurel

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 = BAY(2). 2 a (in sing. or pl.) the foliage of the bay-tree used as an emblem of victory or distinction in poetry usu. formed into a wreath or crown. b (in pl.) honour or distinction. 3 any plant with dark-green glossy leaves like a bay-tree, e.g. cherry-laurel, mountain laurel, spurge laurel. --v.tr. (laurelled, laurelling; US laureled, laureling) wreathe with laurel. Phrases and idioms: look to one's laurels beware of losing one's pre-eminence. rest on one's laurels be satisfied with what one has done and not seek further success. Etymology: ME lorer f. OF lorier f. Prov. laurier f. laur f. L laurus

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Laurel Lau"rel, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus (L. nobilis), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils; -- called also sweet bay. Note: The fruit is a purple berry. It is found about the Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks to crown the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later period, academic honors were indicated by a crown of laurel, with the fruit. The leaves and tree yield an aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water of commerce. Note: The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below. 2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; -- especially in the plural; as, to win laurels. 3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel. Laurel water, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other products carried over in the process. American laurel, or Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia. See under Mountain. California laurel, Umbellularia Californica. Cherry laurel (in England called laurel). See under Cherry. Great laurel, the rosebay (Rhododendron maximum). Ground laurel, trailing arbutus. New Zealand laurel, Laurelia Nov[ae] Zelandi[ae]. Portugal laurel, the Prunus Lusitanica. Rose laurel, the oleander. See Oleander. Sheep laurel, a poisonous shrub, Kalmia angustifolia, smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and redder flowers. Spurge laurel, Daphne Laureola. West Indian laurel, Prunus occidentalis.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Laurel Lau"rel, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.] 1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus (L. nobilis), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils; -- called also sweet bay. Note: The fruit is a purple berry. It is found about the Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks to crown the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later period, academic honors were indicated by a crown of laurel, with the fruit. The leaves and tree yield an aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water of commerce. Note: The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below. 2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; -- especially in the plural; as, to win laurels. 3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel. Laurel water, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other products carried over in the process. American laurel, or Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia. See under Mountain. California laurel, Umbellularia Californica. Cherry laurel (in England called laurel). See under Cherry. Great laurel, the rosebay (Rhododendron maximum). Ground laurel, trailing arbutus. New Zealand laurel, Laurelia Nov[ae] Zelandi[ae]. Portugal laurel, the Prunus Lusitanica. Rose laurel, the oleander. See Oleander. Sheep laurel, a poisonous shrub, Kalmia angustifolia, smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and redder flowers. Spurge laurel, Daphne Laureola. West Indian laurel, Prunus occidentalis.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(laurels) 1. A laurel or a laurel tree is a small evergreen tree with shiny leaves. The leaves are sometimes used to make decorations such as wreaths. N-VAR 2. If someone is resting on their laurels, they appear to be satisfied with the things they have achieved and have stopped putting effort into what they are doing. The government can't rest on its laurels and must press ahead with major policy changes. PHRASE: V inflects [disapproval]