laurel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family
  2. noun United States slapstick comedian (born in England) who played the scatterbrained and often tearful member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1890-1965)
    Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel; Stan Laurel.
  3. noun (antiquity) a wreath of laurel foliage worn on the head as an emblem of victory
    bay wreath; laurel wreath.

WordNet

Lau"rel noun
Etymology
OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier, laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus (L. nobilis), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils; -- called also sweet bay. The fruit is a purple berry. It is found about the Mediterranean, and was early used by the ancient Greeks to crown the victor in the games of Apollo. At a later period, academic honors were indicated by a crown of laurel, with the fruit. The leaves and tree yield an aromatic oil, used to flavor the bay water of commerce. ✍ The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.
  2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; -- especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.
  3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.

Webster 1913