laureate

[ lawr-ee-it, lor- ]

noun

1. a person who has been honored for achieving distinction in a particular field or with a particular award:

   a Nobel laureate.

2. poet laureate.

adjective

1. deserving or having special recognition for achievement, as for poetry (often used immediately after the noun that is modified):

   poet laureate; conjurer laureate.

2. having special distinction or recognition in a field:

   the laureate men of science.

3. crowned or decked with laurel as a mark of honor.
4. consisting of or resembling laurel, as a wreath or crown.

laureate

/ ˌlɔːrɪˈeɪʃən; ˈlɔːrɪɪt /

adjective

1. literary.
   crowned with laurel leaves as a sign of honour
2. archaic.
   made of laurel

noun

1. short for poet laureate
2. a person honoured with an award for art or science

   a Nobel laureate

3. rare.
   a person honoured with the laurel crown or wreath

Derived Forms

• laureation, noun
• ˈlaureateˌship, noun

Other Word Forms

• laure·ate·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of laureate¹

1350–1400; Middle English; < Latin laureātus crowned with laurel, equivalent to laure ( us ) of laurel ( laur ( us ) bay tree + -eus -eous ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of laureate¹

C14: from Latin laureātus, from laurea laurel

Example Sentences

To Lynne Thompson, a former poet laureate of Los Angeles and the current board president of Cave Canem, therein lies the key conceit of the program.

From Los Angeles Times

Arias, a Nobel laureate, said he was informed of the decision weeks after he had publicly criticised Donald Trump, comparing the behaviour of the US president to that of a Roman emperor.

From BBC

"What do you get for that, poet laureate? £70 a year and a barrel of sherry? Not interested."

From BBC

An interim government, led by the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is currently in charge.

From BBC

Backstory: The life of mathematician John Nash, a Nobel laureate who triumphed over schizophrenia, was chronicled in this acclaimed Ron Howard-directed biopic, earning eight Oscar nominations, including best picture.

From Los Angeles Times