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Laurel vs Bay - What's the difference?

laurel | bay | Synonyms |

Bay is a synonym of laurel.



As nouns the difference between laurel and bay

is that laurel is an evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus, having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils while bay is a berry.

As proper nouns the difference between laurel and bay

is that laurel is {{given name|female|from=English}} from the plant {{term|laurel|lang=en}} while Bay is a region of Somalia.

As a verb bay is

to howl.

As an adjective bay is

of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses).

laurel

English

(wikipedia laurel)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An evergreen shrub, of the genus Laurus , having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils.
  • A crown of laurel.
  • (figuratively, chiefly, in the plural) honor, distinction, fame.
    • to win laurels'''; to crown with '''laurels .
  • An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel

    • Derived terms

    * laurel water * laurel wreath * American laurel * California laurel * cherry laurel * great laurel * ground laurel * mountain laurel * New Zealand laurel * Portugal laurel * rose laurel * sheep laurel * spotted laurel * spurge laurel * West Indian laurel * rest on one's laurels

    Usage notes

    * The name is extended to other plants which in some respect resemble the true laurel.

    See also

    * Laurel and Hardy

    Anagrams

    * ----

    bay

    English

    (wikipedia bay)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) baye, baie, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A berry.
  • , a shrub of the family Lauraceae , having dark green leaves and berries.
  • The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.
  • * 1596 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , IV.i:
    • both you here with many a cursed oth, / Sweare she is yours, and stirre vp bloudie frayes, / To win a willow bough, whilest other weares the bayes .
  • The leaf of this or certain other species of shrub, used as a herb.
  • * Trumbull
    • The patriot's honours and the poet's bays .
  • (US, dialect) A tract covered with bay trees.
  • A kind of mahogany obtained from (Campeche) in Mexico.
    • Synonyms
    * bay laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel, sweet bay, true laurel
    Derived terms
    * bayberry * bay laurel * bay leaf * bay rum * bay rum tree * bay tree * red bay * sweet bay

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) baie, from baia.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more or less three-quarters surrounded by land.
  • *
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage='Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.}}
  • A bank or dam to keep back water.
    • Synonyms
    * (body of water) gulf
    Derived terms
    * California bay

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) baie, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.
  • An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
    • , page=13 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) , title= Ideas coming down the track , passage=A “moving platform” scheme
  • The distance between two supports in a vault or building with a pitched roof.
  • (nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.
  • (rail transport) A bay platform.
  • Shortened form of bay window.
    • Derived terms
    * bay platform * bay window * bomb bay * buggy bay * loading bay

    Etymology 4

    From (etyl) bay, combined with aphesized form of abay; verbal form (etyl) baier, abaier.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked.
  • (by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.
  • (figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
  • * (rfdate) (Dryden)
    • Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay .
  • * (rfdate) I. Taylor
    • The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts.
    Derived terms
    * at bay

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To howl.
  • * (rfdate) (Dryden)
    • The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bayed .
  • To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.
    • to bay the bear
    (Shakespeare)
  • To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds.
    • Derived terms
    * bay at the moon

    Etymology 5

    From (etyl) baie, from (etyl) .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses).
    • Derived terms
    * bay cat * bay lynx

    Noun

    (-)
  • A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses.
  • A horse of this color.
    • Quotations
    * (English Citations of "bay")

    See also

    * abeyance * badinage * baize * daphne * voe * * *

    Anagrams

    * ----