Also called bay, sweet bay. a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves.
any tree of the genus Laurus.
any of various similar trees or shrubs, as the mountain laurel or the great rhododendron.
the foliage of the laurel as an emblem of victory or distinction.
a branch or wreath of laurel foliage.
Usually laurels. honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity.
to adorn or wreathe with laurel.
to honor with marks of distinction.
rest on one's laurels, to be content with one's past or present honors, achievements, etc..
He retired at the peak of his career and is resting on his laurels.
look to one's laurels, to be alert to the possibility of being excelled or surpassed.
New developments in the industry are forcing long-established firms to look to their laurels.
Stan Arthur Stanley Jefferson, 1890–1965, U.S. motion-picture actor and comedian, born in England.
a city in SE Mississippi.
a town in central Maryland.
a female given name.
Also called: bay. true laurel. any lauraceous tree of the genus Laurus , such as the bay tree (see bay4 ) and L. canariensis , of the Canary Islands and Azores
any lauraceous plant
short for cherry laurel mountain laurel
a European thymelaeaceous evergreen shrub, Daphne laureola, with glossy leaves and small green flowers
an evergreen cornaceous shrub, Aucuba japonica, of S and SE Asia, the female of which has yellow-spotted leaves
(plural) a wreath of true laurel, worn on the head as an emblem of victory or honour in classical times
(plural) honour, distinction, or fame
to be on guard against one's rivals
to be satisfied with distinction won by past achievements and cease to strive for further achievements
What does laurel mean? 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.
1250–1300; dissimilated variant of Middle English laurer, earlier lorer < Anglo-French; Old French lorier bay tree, equivalent to lor bay, laurel (< Latin laurus ) + -ier -ier 2; see -er 2
A laurel is a wreath worn on the head, usually as a symbol of victory. If you see an image of Julius Caesar, chances are he's wearing a laurel. A laurel is a type of wreath — circular, made from leaves and branches — worn on the head in ancient times. The laurel is a symbol of victory that lives on in the phrase "Resting on one's laurels." When you rest on your laurels, you're happy with previous successes but not doing much to continue succeeding. You've gotten lazy and complacent.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Trainer Mark Casse told the Daily Racing Form the colt has a bruised foot, adding he hoped Silent Tactic would be able to run in the Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Laurel Park.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
In “Sisters in Yellow,” translated by Laurel Taylor and Hitomi Yoshio, mothers are largely absent.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“This place is a godsend,” said Crystal Nerone, who has made several information gathering trips there before she and her husband, Michael, file an application to rebuild their house on Laurel Drive.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Located in lower Laurel Canyon, the three-bedroom estate is tucked away in an exclusive enclave at the base of Mount Olympus.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026
“Take Laurel and Jason. They’re good runners. Make a wide arc around the Hunters, attract as many as you can. I’ll take the main raiding party around to the right and catch them by surprise.”
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
