From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Laurel \Lau"rel\, n. [OE. lorel, laurer, lorer, OF. lorier,
laurier, F. laurier, (assumed) LL. Laurarius, fr. L. laurus.]
1. (Bot.) An evergreen shrub, of the genus {Laurus} ({Laurus
nobilis}), having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape,
with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their
axils; -- called also {sweet bay}.
Note: 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.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The name is extended to other plants which in some
respect resemble the true laurel. See Phrases, below.
[1913 Webster]
2. A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; --
especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.
[1913 Webster]
3. An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because
the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.
[1913 Webster]
{Laurel water}, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the
cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other
products carried over in the process.
[1913 Webster]
{American laurel}, or {Mountain laurel}, {Kalmia latifolia};
called also {calico bush}. See under {Mountain}.
{California laurel}, {Umbellularia Californica}.
{Cherry laurel} (in England called {laurel}). See under
{Cherry}.
{Great laurel}, the rosebay ({Rhododendron maximum}).
{Ground laurel}, trailing arbutus.
{New Zealand laurel}, the {Laurelia Nov[ae] Zelandi[ae]}.
{Portugal laurel}, the {Prunus Lusitanica}.
{Rose laurel}, the oleander. See {Oleander}.
{Sheep laurel}, a poisonous shrub, {Kalmia angustifolia},
smaller than the mountain laurel, and with smaller and
redder flowers.
{Spurge laurel}, {Daphne Laureola}.
{West Indian laurel}, {Prunus occidentalis}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
laurel
n 1: any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family
2: 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) [syn: {Laurel},
{Stan Laurel}, {Arthur Stanley Jefferson Laurel}]
3: (antiquity) a wreath of laurel foliage worn on the head as an
emblem of victory [syn: {laurel}, {laurel wreath}, {bay
wreath}]
From Spanish-English FreeDict Dictionary ver. 0.1.1 [fd-spa-eng]:
laurel
laurel(laŭro)
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