laurel

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: Lau=rel

CIDE DICTIONARY

laurel, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.].

•  An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus (Laurus nobilis), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils; -- called also sweet bay.

  "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."  [1913 Webster]

  " The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below."  [1913 Webster]
•  A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; -- especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.  [1913 Webster]
•  An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.  [1913 Webster]

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; called also calico bush. 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, the Laurelia Novæ Zelandiæ. -- 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.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

laurel, 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.

Idiom

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

DEVIL DICTIONARY

laurel

n. The _laurus_, a vegetable dedicated to Apollo, and formerly defoliated to wreathe the brows of victors and such poets as had influence at court. (_Vide supra._)

ROGET THESAURUS

laurel

Trophy

N trophy, medal, prize, palm, award, laurel, laurels, bays, crown, chaplet, wreath, civic crown, insignia, feather in one's cap, decoration, garland, triumphal arch, Victoria Cross, Iron Cross, triumph, flying colors, monumentum aere perennius, for valor.

Title

N title, honor, knighthood, highness, excellency, grace, lordship, worship, reverence, reverend, esquire, sir, master, Mr, signor, senor, Mein Herr, mynheer, your honor, his honor, serene highness, handle to one's name, decoration, laurel, palm, wreath, garland, bays, medal, ribbon, riband, blue ribbon, cordon, cross, crown, coronet, star, garter, feather, feather in one's cap, epaulet, epaulette, colors, cockade, livery, order, arms, shield, scutcheon, reward.