laurel

An evergreen tree or bush with strongly scented leaves used in cooking.

• A laurel grows in our garden.
• She added a laurel leaf to the soup.
• The laurel bushes stayed green all winter.

Similar words: bay, bay laurel, bay tree

Common phrases: bay laurel, laurel leaves, laurel bush

Praise or honors earned through success, usually spoken of in the plural.

• The team won fresh laurels.
• Her early novels earned her international laurels.
• You cannot rest on your laurels forever.

How to use it: rest on one's laurels (After winning the award, she refused to rest on her laurels.)

Similar words: honors, glory, distinction, fame

Opposites: disgrace

Common phrases: win laurel, earn laurel

A crown made from bay leaves, traditionally given to a winner.

• The winner wore a laurel.
• A golden laurel rested on the statue's head.
• The poet received a laurel at the ceremony.

Similar words: laurel wreath, laurel crown

Common phrases: laurel crown, laurel wreath, victor's laurel

Any tree or bush belonging to the same plant family as the bay tree.

• This tropical laurel has broad leaves.
• The botanist identified several laurels in the forest.
• Avocado and cinnamon are laurels from the same plant family.

Common phrases: tropical laurel, laurel species, laurel family

To decorate someone or something with bay leaves, especially a crown made from them.

• They laureled the winner's head.
• The poet's brow was laureled with green leaves.
• Workers laureled the monument before the celebration.

How to use it: laurel someone/something with something (They laureled the statue with fresh bay leaves.)

Similar words: crown with laurel

Common phrases: laurel someone's brow, laurel a statue

To surround or decorate someone or something with a ring of leaves or flowers.

• They laureled her with flowers.
• A ring of roses laureled the statue's head.
• The dancers were laureled with woven garlands.

How to use it: laurel someone/something with something (They laureled her head with spring flowers.)

Similar words: wreathe, enwreathe

Common phrases: laurel someone's head, laurel with flowers

To give someone the highest honors for an achievement.

• The judges laureled the young poet.
• She was laureled for her contribution to science.
• The festival laureled three filmmakers this year.

How to use it: laurel someone for something (The academy laureled her for a lifetime of achievement.)

Similar words: honor, acclaim

Common phrases: laurel a poet, laurel the winner