Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Laurel
Lau′rel
,Noun.
[OE.
lorel
, laurer
, lorer
, OF. lorier
, laurier
, F. laurier
, (assumed) LL. Laurarius
, fr. L. laurus
.] 1.
(Bot.)
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.
☞ The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.
2.
A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; – especially in the plural;
as, to win
. laurels
3.
An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king’s head on it was crowned with laurel.
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
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
.Webster 1828 Edition
Laurel
LAU'REL
,Noun.
The bay-tree or Laurus, a genus of plants of several species.
Definition 2024
Laurel
Laurel
See also: laurel
English
Noun
Laurel (plural Laurels)
- (Mormonism) A 16- to 17-year-old participant in the Young Women organization of the LDS Church.
Related terms
Translations
a 16-17 year old participant in the Young Women organization of the LDS Church
Proper noun
Laurel
- A female given name from the plant laurel.
- 1972 Eudora Welty, The Optimist's Daughter, Random House, ISBN 0394480171, page 27
- "What on earth made Becky give you a name like that?" she'd asked Laurel, on that first occasion.
- "It's the state flower of West Virginia," Laurel told her, smiling. "Where my mother came from."
- 1972 Eudora Welty, The Optimist's Daughter, Random House, ISBN 0394480171, page 27
- A town in Delaware
- A census-designated place in Florida
- A town in Indiana
- A city in Iowa
- A city in Maryland
- A city in Mississippi
- A city in Montana
- A city in Nebraska
- A census-designated place in New York
- A census-designated place in Virginia
Anagrams
laurel
laurel
See also: Laurel
English
Laurus nobilis
Noun
laurel (plural laurels)
- An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus, having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils.
- A crown of laurel.
- (figuratively, chiefly in the plural) Honor, distinction, fame.
- to win laurels; to crown with laurels.
- An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel
Derived terms
|
Translations
evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus
|
|
crown of laurel
|
honor, distinction
Usage notes
- The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel.