laurel

A laurel is a type of tree with dark, glossy green leaves. In Ancient Greece and Rome, laurel leaves were used to make wreaths that were worn on a person’s head to symbolize victory—like that leaf crown that Caesar is always wearing in statues. Today, we use the word laurels to mean honors.

When used this way, it is almost always plural.

Example: After a 50-year career, I have many laurels, but I’m most proud of my beautiful family.

Laurel has been used in English for the name of a tree since at least the 1300s. The word ultimately derives from laurus, which was the name of the tree in Latin.

In terms of trees, laurel most commonly refers to the species Laurus nobilis, also called true laurel, bay laurel, or sweet bay laurel. Notably, the leaves of the bay laurel, called bay leaves, are used in cooking to flavor dishes. But there are many other trees that can be called laurels. The laurel family includes the avocado tree and the tree whose bark gives us cinnamon.

However, it was the leaves of the true laurel that were used in ancient times to make wreaths worn as a sign of triumph. The practice started with Greek mythology. Long story short: the nymph Daphne got turned into a laurel tree, so the god Apollo turned it into an evergreen and made a wreath out of its leaves to honor her. The laurel wreath became associated with poets and eventually became a symbol of victory—ancient Olympians were honored with leaf crowns. It is still used as a symbol on flags and crests (much like how the olive branch is used as a symbol of peace). Today, we use laurels to mean “honors,” especially for an achievement in a particular field or activity, as in There are few laurels that she has not achieved in the literary world. Less commonly, laurel can be used as a verb meaning “to crown with laurels” or “to honor.”

Someone who has been honored in a certain way is sometimes called a laureate, as in poet laureate and Nobel laureate. Laurel is often used in the phrase rest on one’s laurels, meaning “to rely on one’s past accomplishments and honors without continuing to try to perform at a high level.” Another idiom, look to one’s laurels, means “to be on guard against one’s rivals.”

What are some other forms related to laurel?

• unlaureled (adjective)

What are some synonyms for laurel?

• honor
• accolade
• award
• bay
• sweet bay

What are some words that share a root or word element with laurel? 

• laureate

What are some words that often get used in discussing laurel?

• tree
• leaf
• wreath
• branch
• victory
• achievement
• Daphne
• Apollo

Laurels are honors, and they are often discussed in the context of the awards someone has won over a distinguished career. There are many different trees that can be called laurel, but the word most often refers to the bay laurel.

101 congratulations to all our CWG champions.Your hard work & various sacrifices have brought laurels to our nation.U make us proud!!!

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 15, 2010

Some actors are content to rest on their laurels. Well, I’m here to tell you:

I. Don’t. Have. Any. Laurels.

— (((Josh Malina))) (@JoshMalina) November 28, 2019

Oh how I miss those mountains, when the laurels are in bloom. And the southern stars are dancing ‘round the North Carolina Moon

— Scotty McCreery (@ScottyMcCreery) July 24, 2014

True or False? 

Laurel wreaths are no longer used as a symbol of victory.