Word Meanings - LAUREL - Book Publishers vocabulary database

An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus , 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

Additional info about word: LAUREL

An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus , 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. Note: 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. Laurel water, water distilled from the fresh leaves of the cherry laurel, and containing prussic acid and other products carried over in the process. American laurel, or Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia. See under Mountain. -- California laurel, Umbellularia Californica. -- Cherry laurel . See under Cherry. -- Great laurel, the rosebay . -- Ground laurel, trailing arbutus. -- New Zealand laurel, Laurelia Novæ Zelandiæ. -- 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.

Related words: (words related to LAUREL)

• CALLOSUM
  The great band commissural fibers which unites the two cerebral hemispheres. See corpus callosum, under Carpus.
• CALLOW
  1. Destitute of feathers; naked; unfledged. An in the leafy summit, spied a nest, Which, o'er the callow young, a sparrow pressed. Dryden. 2. Immature; boyish; "green"; as, a callow youth. I perceive by this, thou art but a callow maid. Old Play .
• WHITECAP
  The European redstart; -- so called from its white forehead. The whitethroat; -- so called from its gray head. The European tree sparrow. 2. A wave whose crest breaks into white foam, as when the wind is freshening.
• WHITE-FRONTED
  Having a white front; as, the white-fronted lemur. White- fronted goose , the white brant, or snow goose. See Snow goose, under Snow.
• WHITE FLY
  Any one of numerous small injurious hemipterous insects of the genus Aleyrodes, allied to scale insects. They are usually covered with a white or gray powder.
• SWEETLY
  In a sweet manner.
• FRUIT
  The pulpy, edible seed vessels of certain plants, especially those grown on branches above ground, as apples, oranges, grapes, melons, berries, etc. See 3. (more info) enjoyment, product, fruit, from frui, p. p. fructus, to enjoy; akin 1. Whatever
• HAVENED
  Sheltered in a haven. Blissful havened both from joy and pain. Keats.
• SWEETISH
  Somewhat sweet. -- Sweet"ish*ness, n.
• CALLE
  A kind of head covering; a caul. Chaucer.
• FRUITAGE
  1. Fruit, collectively; fruit, in general; fruitery. The trees . . . ambrosial fruitage bear. Milton. 2. Product or result of any action; effect, good or ill.
• WHITESTER
  A bleacher of lines; a whitener; a whitster.
• WHITE-HEART
  A somewhat heart-shaped cherry with a whitish skin.
• SWEETING
  1. A sweet apple. Ascham. 2. A darling; -- a word of endearment. Shak.
• SWEETHEART
  A lover of mistress.
• HAVENER
  A harbor master.
• WHITESIDE
  The golden-eye.
• LANCEOLATE; LANCEOLATED
  Rather narrow, tapering to a point at the apex, and sometimes at the base also; as, a lanceolate leaf.
• FOUNDATION
  The lowest and supporting part or member of a wall, including the base course , under Base, n.) and footing courses; in a frame house, the whole substructure of masonry. 4. A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution,
• WHITE-EAR
  The wheatear.
• GYMNASTICALLY
  In a gymnastic manner.
• HYPERCRITICALLY
  In a hypercritical manner.
• UNEMPIRICALLY
  Not empirically; without experiment or experience.
• SCALLION
  A kind of small onion , native of Palestine; the eschalot, or shallot. 2. Any onion which does not "bottom out," but remains with a thick stem like a leek. Amer. Cyc.
• CONFOUNDED
  1. Confused; perplexed. A cloudy and confounded philosopher. Cudworth. 2. Excessive; extreme; abominable. He was a most confounded tory. Swift. The tongue of that confounded woman. Sir. W. Scott.
• SPINDLE-SHAPED
  Thickest in the middle, and tapering to both ends; fusiform; -- applied chiefly to roots. (more info) 1. Having the shape of a spindle.