Illustration of laurel
- laurel 1
1
: an evergreen shrub or tree (Laurus nobilis of the family Lauraceae, the laurel family) of southern Europe with small yellow flowers, fruits that are ovoid blackish berries, and evergreen foliage once used by the ancient Greeks to crown victors in the Pythian games
called also bay, sweet bay
2
: a tree or shrub that resembles the true laurel
especially
: mountain laurel
3
a
: a crown of laurel awarded as an honor
b
: a recognition of achievement : honor
—usually used in plural
laureled or laurelled; laureling or laurelling
: to deck or crown with laurel
Examples of laurel in a Sentence
Noun
They enjoyed the laurels of their military victory.
The player earned his laurels from years of hard work.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessica Benavides Canepa, AFAR Media, 4 June 2025
However, Canales warns that Spanish cinema cannot rest on festival laurels alone.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 14 May 2025
A number of the trees cut down by the vandal appeared to be Indian laurel figs.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Lemonade berry, laurel sumac and California lilac line its hillsides.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
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Noun
La Gomera, a small island 50 to 60 minutes from Tenerife via fast ferry, offers quieter day trips in the subtropical laurel forest setting of the UNESCO World Heritage Garajonay National Park.
—Jessica Benavides Canepa, AFAR Media, 4 June 2025
However, Canales warns that Spanish cinema cannot rest on festival laurels alone.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 14 May 2025
A number of the trees cut down by the vandal appeared to be Indian laurel figs.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Lemonade berry, laurel sumac and California lilac line its hillsides.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for laurel
Cite this Entry
“Laurel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laurel. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Laurel
biographical name
Lau·rel
ˈlȯr-əl 
ˈlär-
Stan 1890–1965 born Arthur Stanley Jefferson British comic actor in U.S.
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