bay leaf

American  

[bey leef] / ˈbeɪ ˌlif /

noun

1. the dried leaf of the bay laurel, Laurus nobilis, used in cooking.

2. the leaf of the bayberry, Pimenta racemosa, used in making bay oil and bay rum.

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bay leaf British  

noun

1. a leaf, usually dried, of the Mediterranean laurel, Laurus nobilis , used in cooking to flavour soups and stews

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Etymology

Origin of bay leaf

First recorded in 1630–40

Example Sentences

Generous hunks of vanilla bean dot her lemon marmalade; bay leaf infuses her blackberry jam.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

Combine chopped chunks of some celery, carrots, a small onion, a bay leaf, some lemon juice, and a pinch of kosher salt and drop it into the water.

From Salon • Dec. 19, 2023

There are so many latent flavors, nuances and aromas trapped in the bay leaf — let time and heat coax them out slowly.

From Salon • Sep. 13, 2023

Add a big pinch of salt, several black peppercorns, the thyme sprigs and bay leaf.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2023

His father’s plate is polished clean, the chicken bones denuded of cartilage and chewed to a pinkish pulp, the bay leaf and cinnamon stick as good as new.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri