laurel

UK: /ˈlɒr^əl/ US: /ˈlɔrəl, ˈlɑr-/ ,(lôr′əl, lor′-)

Inflections of 'laurel' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

When both "l" and "ll" forms exist, spellings with a double "l" are correct, but rare, in US English, while those with a single "l" are not correct in UK English.

laurels

v 3rd person singular

laurelling

v pres p (Mainly UK)

laureling

v pres p (US)

laurelled

v past (Mainly UK)

laureled

v past (US)

laurelled

v past p (Mainly UK)

laureled

v past p (US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

lau•rel /ˈlɔrəl, ˈlɑr-/   n. [countable]

1. Plant Biology Also called bay. a small European evergreen tree, having dark, glossy green leaves.
2. a leaf or branch of laurel, or a wreath made of these, used as a sign of victory or distinction.
3. Usually, laurels. [plural] honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity.

Idioms

4. Idioms rest on one's laurels, to stop trying for further successes.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lau•rel  (lôr′əl, lor′-), n., v., -reled, -rel•ing or (esp. Brit.) -relled, -rel•ling. 
n. 

1. Plant Biology Also called bay, sweet bay. a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves. Cf. laurel family.
2. Plant Biology any tree of the genus Laurus.
3. Plant Biology any of various similar trees or shrubs, as the mountain laurel or the great rhododendron.
4. the foliage of the laurel as an emblem of victory or distinction.
5. a branch or wreath of laurel foliage.
6. Usually, laurels. honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity.
7. Idioms look to one's laurels, to be alert to the possibility of being excelled or surpassed:
   New developments in the industry are forcing long-established firms to look to their laurels.
8. Idioms rest on one's laurels, to be content with one's past or present honors, achievements, etc.:
   He retired at the peak of his career and is resting on his laurels.

v.t. 

9. to adorn or wreathe with laurel.
10. to honor with marks of distinction.

• Latin laurus) + -ier -ier²; see -er²
• Anglo-French; Old French lorier bay tree, equivalent. to lor bay, laurel (
• dissimilated variant of Middle English laurer, earlier lorer 1250–1300

Synonyms

• 6. glory, fame, renown, praise.

Lau•rel  (lôr′əl, lor′-), n. 

1. Biographical Stan (Arthur Stanley Jefferson), 1890–1965, U.S. motion-picture actor and comedian, born in England.
2. Place Names a city in SE Mississippi. 21,897.
3. Place Names a town in central Maryland. 12,103.
4. a female given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

laurel / ˈlɒrəl/ noun

1. Also called: bay, true laurel any lauraceous tree of the genus Laurus, such as the bay tree (see bay⁴) and L. canariensis, of the Canary Islands and Azores
2. any lauraceous plant
3. short for mountain laurel
4. spurge laurel ⇒ a European thymelaeaceous evergreen shrub, Daphne laureola, with glossy leaves and small green flowers
5. (plural) a wreath of true laurel, worn on the head as an emblem of victory or honour in classical times
6. (plural) honour, distinction, or fame
7. look to one's laurels ⇒ to be on guard against one's rivals
8. rest on one's laurels ⇒ to be satisfied with distinction won by past achievements and cease to strive for further achievements

verb ( -rels, -relling, -relled) ( -rels, -reling, -reled)

1. (transitive) to crown with laurels

Etymology: 13th Century lorer, from Old French lorier laurel tree, ultimately from Latin laurus