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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
,
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
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Laurel

LAU'REL

,
Noun.
[L. laurus.]
The bay-tree or Laurus, a genus of plants of several species.

Definition 2024


Laurel

Laurel

See also: laurel

English

Noun

Laurel (plural Laurels)

  1. (Mormonism) A 16- to 17-year-old participant in the Young Women organization of the LDS Church.

Related terms

Translations

Proper noun

Laurel

  1. 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."
  2. A town in Delaware
  3. A census-designated place in Florida
  4. A town in Indiana
  5. A city in Iowa
  6. A city in Maryland
  7. A city in Mississippi
  8. A city in Montana
  9. A city in Nebraska
  10. A census-designated place in New York
  11. A census-designated place in Virginia

Anagrams

laurel

laurel

See also: Laurel

English

Laurus nobilis

Noun

laurel (plural laurels)

  1. An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus, having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils.
  2. A crown of laurel.
  3. (figuratively, chiefly in the plural) Honor, distinction, fame.
    to win laurels; to crown with laurels.
  4. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel

Derived terms

Translations

Usage notes

  • The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel.

See also

Anagrams


Spanish

Etymology

Via Provençal laurier from Latin laurus (laurel).

Noun

laurel m (plural laureles)

  1. (botany) laurel

Derived terms

  • laurel alejandrino
  • laurel cerezo
  • laurel real
  • laurel rosa

Related terms