laurel

[ lawr-uhl, lor- ]

/ ˈlɔr əl, ˈlɒr- /

noun

Also called bay, sweet bay. a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves. Compare laurel family.

any tree of the genus Laurus.

any of various similar trees or shrubs, as the mountain laurel or the great rhododendron.

the foliage of the laurel as an emblem of victory or distinction.

a branch or wreath of laurel foliage.

Usually laurels. honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity.

verb (used with object), lau·reled, lau·rel·ing or (especially British) lau·relled, lau·rel·ling.

to adorn or wreathe with laurel.

to honor with marks of distinction.

Idioms for laurel

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.

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.

Origin of laurel

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 -ier²; see -er²

SYNONYMS FOR laurel

6 glory, fame, renown, praise.

OTHER WORDS FROM laurel

un·lau·reled, adjective un·lau·relled, adjective

Words nearby laurel

lauraldehyde, laurasia, laurate, laureate, laureen, laurel, laurel and hardy, laurel cherry, laurel family, laurel oak, lauren

Example sentences from the Web for laurelled

On the return of the Victorians from Sydney, a reporter for the Herald designated them 'the laurelled warriors.'

The Magnificent Montez |Horace Wyndham
But the house stood isolated, and outside the laurelled forests and porous cliffs soaked up the dissonance as a blotter soaks ink.

The Roof Tree |Charles Neville Buck
A very clever etching of a winged and laurelled Death playing on the bagpipe and making his appearance to an old couple at table.

The Dance of Death |Francis Douce
He was buried at the expense of the state in Sta Croce, where his laurelled statue is still to be seen.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 |Various

These tidings we that sat upon the laurelled car had it for our privilege to publish amongst all nations.

The English Mail-Coach and Joan of Arc |Thomas de Quincey

British Dictionary definitions for laurelled

laurel

/ (ˈlɒrəl) /

noun

Also called: bay, true laurel any lauraceous tree of the genus Laurus, such as the bay tree (see bay 4) and L. canariensis, of the Canary Islands and Azores

any lauraceous plant

short for cherry laurel, mountain laurel

spurge laurel a European thymelaeaceous evergreen shrub, Daphne laureola, with glossy leaves and small green flowers

spotted laurel or Japan laurel an evergreen cornaceous shrub, Aucuba japonica, of S and SE Asia, the female of which has yellow-spotted leaves

(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

look to one's laurels to be on guard against one's rivals

rest on one's laurels to be satisfied with distinction won by past achievements and cease to strive for further achievements

verb -rels, -relling or -relled or US -rels, -reling or -reled

(tr) to crown with laurels

Word Origin for laurel

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

Idioms and Phrases with laurelled

laurel

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

laurel

noun

verb (used with object), lau·reled, lau·rel·ing or (especially British) lau·relled, lau·rel·ling.

Idioms for laurel

Origin of laurel

SYNONYMS FOR laurel

OTHER WORDS FROM laurel

Words nearby laurel

Example sentences from the Web for laurelled

British Dictionary definitions for laurelled

noun

verb -rels, -relling or -relled or US -rels, -reling or -reled

Word Origin for laurel

Idioms and Phrases with laurelled

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

laurel

noun

verb (used with object), lau·reled, lau·rel·ing or (especially British) lau·relled, lau·rel·ling.

Idioms for laurel

Origin of laurel

SYNONYMS FOR laurel

OTHER WORDS FROM laurel

Words nearby laurel

Example sentences from the Web for laurelled

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for laurelled

noun

verb -rels, -relling or -relled or US -rels, -reling or -reled

Word Origin for laurel

Idioms and Phrases with laurelled

British Dictionary definitions for laurelled