laureate

[lawr-ee-it, lor-]

noun

1. a person who has been honored for achieving distinction in a particular field or with a particular award.

   a Nobel laureate.

2. poet laureate.

adjective

1. deserving or having special recognition for achievement, as for poetry (often used immediately after the noun that is modified).

   poet laureate; conjurer laureate.

2. having special distinction or recognition in a field.

   the laureate men of science.

3. crowned or decked with laurel as a mark of honor.

4. consisting of or resembling laurel, as a wreath or crown.

laureate

/ ˌlɔːrɪˈeɪʃən, ˈlɔːrɪɪt /

adjective

1. literary,  crowned with laurel leaves as a sign of honour

2. archaic,  made of laurel

noun

1. short for poet laureate

2. a person honoured with an award for art or science

   a Nobel laureate

3. rare,  a person honoured with the laurel crown or wreath

Other Word Forms

• laureateship noun
• laureation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of laureate¹

1350–1400; Middle English; < Latin laureātus crowned with laurel, equivalent to laure ( us ) of laurel ( laur ( us ) bay tree + -eus -eous ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of laureate¹

C14: from Latin laureātus, from laurea _laurel

Example Sentences

Across the walls are framed pictures of every peace laureate, with a space at the end for a photograph of this year's winner.

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Eventually, the immunologist was able to reach his fellow laureates, friends and officials at the Nobel Assembly - 20 hours after they first tried to reach him.

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The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, has banned the Awami League from political activity until the trial of its leaders is over.

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The lyrics are the only giveaway that this is the work of a band in their late middle age - as Cocker, the poet laureate of suburban misfits, sings movingly about stagnation, divorce and mortality.

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Phil appearance as conductor laureate this past year, energized audiences have begun the mantra of “bring him back.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adorn 
• bedeck 
• decorate