noun
Uncommon
laurel
LOR-uhl
Laurel (noun) means an evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves, or a wreath made from its branches. Example: “Ancient Greek athletes were crowned with a laurel wreath.”
noun
1
An evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves, or a wreath made from its branches.
"Ancient Greek athletes were crowned with a laurel wreath."
2
Honor, distinction, or praise earned through achievement.
"The director has earned many laurels for her latest film."
"I was semi-famous; I had been something, but as one worthy critic remarked: past laurels fade fast."
— Fiona Lewis, Mistakes Were Made (Some in French) (2017)
How to use laurel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe plant used in ancient wreaths of honor, and by extension, the praise or fame those wreaths symbolize.
Common mistake
"Rest on one's laurels" means to stop trying because of past success — it is always used critically, not as praise.
Common pairings
rest on one's laurels
laurel wreath
win laurels
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Word forms
- Plural
- laurels
- Third person singular
- laurels
- Past tense
- laureled, laurelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Ancient Greek athletes were crowned with a _____ wreath.
Etymology
From Old French lorier, ultimately from Latin laurus, "laurel."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “laurel” mean?
The word “laurel” means an evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves, or a wreath made from its branches. In plain terms, the plant used in ancient wreaths of honor, and by extension, the praise or fame those wreaths symbolize.
How do you pronounce “laurel”?
“Laurel” is pronounced LOR-uhl (/ˈlɔɹ.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “laurel” in a sentence?
Here is “laurel” used in a sentence: “Ancient Greek athletes were crowned with a laurel wreath.”
What part of speech is “laurel”?
“Laurel” is a noun.
Where does the word “laurel” come from?
The word “laurel” comes from Latin. From Old French lorier, ultimately from Latin laurus, "laurel.".
Is “laurel” a common word?
“Laurel” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “laurel” have?
“Laurel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves, or a wreath made from its branches.
What does it mean to "rest on one's laurels"?
To "rest on one's laurels" means to be satisfied with past achievements and stop trying to accomplish more, drawing on the sense of laurel as honor or distinction earned through achievement.
What is the difference between a laurel wreath and the laurel plant?
The laurel plant is an evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves, while a laurel wreath is an object made from the branches of that plant; the wreath has become symbolically associated with honor and achievement.
Why is "laurels" used to mean honor or achievement?
Because a wreath made from laurel branches has long been used as a symbol of honor, the word "laurels" came to mean the distinction or praise earned through accomplishment.
