laurel

[ lawr-uhl, lor- ]

/ ˈlɔr əl, ˈlɒr- /

noun

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

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.

verb (used with object), lau·reled, lau·rel·ing or (especially British) lau·relled, lau·rel·ling.

to adorn or wreathe with laurel.

to honor with marks of distinction.

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Lincolnesque

without interest or significance; dull; insipid.

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very high or tall; lofty.

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Words nearby laurel

lauraldehyde, laurasia, laurate, laureate, laureen, laurel, laurel and hardy, laurel cherry, laurel family, laurel oak, lauren

Idioms for laurel

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.

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.

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 -ier²; see -er²

SYNONYMS FOR laurel

6 glory, fame, renown, praise.

OTHER WORDS FROM laurel

un·lau·reled, adjectiveun·lau·relled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for look to one's laurels

laurel

/ (ˈlɒrəl) /

noun

Also called: bay, true laurel any lauraceous tree of the genus Laurus, such as the bay tree (see bay 4) and L. canariensis, of the Canary Islands and Azores

any lauraceous plant

short for cherry laurel, mountain laurel

spurge laurel a European thymelaeaceous evergreen shrub, Daphne laureola, with glossy leaves and small green flowers

spotted laurel or Japan laurel 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

look to one's laurels to be on guard against one's rivals

rest on one's laurels to be satisfied with distinction won by past achievements and cease to strive for further achievements

verb -rels, -relling or -relled or US -rels, -reling or -reled

(tr) to crown with laurels

Word Origin for laurel

C13 lorer, from Old French lorier laurel tree, ultimately from Latin laurus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with look to one's laurels (1 of 2)

look to one's laurels

Protect one's preeminent reputation or position, especially against a threat of being surpassed. For example, Your opponent's done very well in the practice, so you'd better look to your laurels in the actual game. This idiom alludes to laurels as the traditional material for making a victor's crown. [Late 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with look to one's laurels (2 of 2)

laurel

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