laurel

¹

[ lawr-uhl, lor- ]

noun

1. Also called bay, sweet bay. a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves. Compare laurel family.
2. any tree of the genus Laurus.
3. any of various similar trees or shrubs, as the mountain laurel or the great rhododendron.
4. the foliage of the laurel as an emblem of victory or distinction.
5. a branch or wreath of laurel foliage.
6. Usually laurels. honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity.

   Synonyms: praise, renown, fame, glory

verb (used with object)

, lau·reled, lau·rel·ing or (especially British) lau·relled, lau·rel·ling.

1. to adorn or wreathe with laurel.
2. to honor with marks of distinction.

Laurel

²

[ lawr-uhl, lor- ]

noun

1. Stan Arthur Stanley Jefferson, 1890–1965, U.S. motion-picture actor and comedian, born in England.
2. a city in SE Mississippi.
3. a town in central Maryland.
4. a female given name.

laurel

/ ˈlɒrəl /

noun

1. Also calledbaytrue laurel any lauraceous tree of the genus Laurus , such as the bay tree (see bay4 ) and L. canariensis , of the Canary Islands and Azores
2. any lauraceous plant
3. short for cherry laurel mountain laurel
4. spurge laurel
   a European thymelaeaceous evergreen shrub, Daphne laureola, with glossy leaves and small green flowers
5. spotted laurel or Japan laurel
   an evergreen cornaceous shrub, Aucuba japonica, of S and SE Asia, the female of which has yellow-spotted leaves
6. plural a wreath of true laurel, worn on the head as an emblem of victory or honour in classical times
7. plural honour, distinction, or fame
8. look to one's laurels
   to be on guard against one's rivals
9. rest on one's laurels
   to be satisfied with distinction won by past achievements and cease to strive for further achievements

verb

1. tr to crown with laurels

Other Words From

• un·laureled adjective
• un·laurelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of laurel¹

1250–1300; dissimilated variant of Middle English laurer, earlier lorer < Anglo-French; Old French lorier bay tree, equivalent to lor bay, laurel (< Latin laurus ) + -ier -ier ²; -er ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of laurel¹

C13 lorer, from Old French lorier laurel tree, ultimately from Latin laurus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. look to one's laurels, to be alert to the possibility of being excelled or surpassed:

   New developments in the industry are forcing long-established firms to look to their laurels.

2. rest on one's laurels, to be content with one's past or present honors, achievements, etc.:

   He retired at the peak of his career and is resting on his laurels.

More idioms and phrases containing laurel

see look to one's laurels ; rest on one's laurels .

Example Sentences

So when my wife and I moved to Laurel Canyon I spent my first year working night and day on the show.

From The Daily Beast

Did McCarthy invent the portrayal of violence in fiction, or should that laurel go to Homer?

From The Daily Beast

If Pat Roberts lived in Dodge City, why did he travel 1,400 miles out of his way to purchase his car in Laurel, Maryland?

From The Daily Beast

But no laurel wreaths waited for Marina on the day of her victory.

From The Daily Beast

One artist, Edgardo Aragón from Oaxaca, tries to capture that in an exhibition at the Laurel Gitlen Gallery.

From The Daily Beast

He went out into the garden, and the rustling of the laurel-bushes frightened him.

From Project Gutenberg

Burn the male olive-branch and the pine twig and juniper, and let the blazing laurel crackle amid the hearth.

From Project Gutenberg

The composer was recalled fifteen times and presented with a laurel wreath.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing was to be thought of but a frame for this—olive, bay, laurel, everything appropriate to the conqueror.

From Project Gutenberg

They could hear bird calling bird far within, among the myrtles and laurel hedges.

From Project Gutenberg