laurel

¹ American  

[lawr-uhl, lor-] / ˈlɔr əl, ˈlɒr- /

noun

1. Also called bay, sweet bay.  a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves.

2. any tree of the genus Laurus.

3. any of various similar trees or shrubs, as the mountain laurel or the great rhododendron.

4. the foliage of the laurel as an emblem of victory or distinction.

5. a branch or wreath of laurel foliage.

6. Usually laurels. honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity.

   Synonyms:

   praise, renown, fame, glory

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verb (used with object)

laureled, laureling, laurelled, laurelling

1. to adorn or wreathe with laurel.

2. to honor with marks of distinction.

idioms

1. 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.

2. 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.

Laurel ² American  

[lawr-uhl, lor-] / ˈlɔr əl, ˈlɒr- /

noun

1. Stan Arthur Stanley Jefferson, 1890–1965, U.S. motion-picture actor and comedian, born in England.

2. a city in SE Mississippi.

3. a town in central Maryland.

4. a female given name.

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laurel British  

/ ˈlɒrəl /

noun

1. 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

2. any lauraceous plant

3. short for cherry laurel mountain laurel

4. a European thymelaeaceous evergreen shrub, Daphne laureola, with glossy leaves and small green flowers

5. an evergreen cornaceous shrub, Aucuba japonica, of S and SE Asia, the female of which has yellow-spotted leaves

6. (plural) a wreath of true laurel, worn on the head as an emblem of victory or honour in classical times

7. (plural) honour, distinction, or fame

8. to be on guard against one's rivals

9. to be satisfied with distinction won by past achievements and cease to strive for further achievements

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verb

1. (tr) to crown with laurels

laurel More Idioms  

1. see look to one's laurels; rest on one's laurels.

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• unlaureled adjective
• unlaurelled adjective

Etymology

Origin of laurel

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; -er ²

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

Their small faces are riveted as he passes around a leaf from a California bay laurel tree.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

A number of the trees cut down by the vandal appeared to be Indian laurel figs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2025

In July 2022 O'Neill laid a laurel wreath at the Belfast Cenotaph to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2024

In July 2022, Michelle O'Neill laid a laurel wreath at the Belfast Cenotaph to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

From BBC • Nov. 8, 2024

As they lined up next to the German and Italian crews, Olympic officials went down the American line, hanging gold medals around the boys’ necks and placing small laurel wreaths on their heads.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown