- short for MOUNTAIN LAUREL. - short for CHERRY LAUREL. - the bay tree. See BAY2 . 2 an aromatic evergreen shrub related to the bay tree, several kinds of which form forests in tropical and warm countries. Lauraceae 3 (usu. laurels) the foliage of the bay tree woven into a wreath or crown and worn on the head as an emblem of victory or mark of honor in classical times. FIGURATIVE honor: she has rightly won laurels for this brilliantly perceptive first novel. # v. (-reled, -rel*ing; BRIT. -relled, -rel*ling) [trans.] adorn with or as if with a laurel: they banish our anger forever when they laurel the graves of our dead. # look to one's laurels be careful not to lose one's superior position to a rival. # rest on one's laurels be so