Laurel vs. Bay — What's the Difference?

An evergreen tree (Laurus nobilis) of the Mediterranean region valued for its aromatic ovate leaves, used in cooking. Also called bay5, bay laurel, sweet bay.

A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or even another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight.

A shrub or tree, such as the mountain laurel, having a similar aroma or leaf shape.

A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a wide mouth, affording access to the sea

A wreath of laurel conferred as a mark of honor in ancient times upon poets, heroes, and victors in athletic contests.

An area of land, such as an arm of prairie partially enclosed by woodland, that resembles in shape or formation a partially enclosed body of water.

Honor and glory won for great achievement.

(Architecture) A part of a building marked off by vertical elements, such as columns or pilasters

To crown with laurel.

A bay window.

To honor, especially with an award or prize.

An opening or recess in a wall.

, an evergreen shrub having aromatic leaves of a lanceolate shape, with clusters of small, yellowish white flowers in their axils.

A section or compartment, as in a service station, barn, or aircraft, that is set off for a specific purpose

A crown of laurel.

A sickbay.

Honor, distinction, fame.

(Computers) A drive bay.

(botany) Any plant of the family Lauraceae.

A reddish brown.

(botany) Any of various plants of other families that resemble laurels.

A reddish-brown animal, especially a horse having a black mane and tail.

(historical) An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.

A deep, prolonged bark, such as the sound made by hounds.

(transitive) To decorate with laurel, especially with a laurel wreath.

The position of one cornered by pursuers and forced to turn and fight at close quarters

(transitive) To enwreathe.

The position of having been checked or held at a distance

To award top honours to.

See laurel.

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.

Any of certain other trees or shrubs with aromatic foliage, such as the California laurel.

A crown of laurel; hence, honor; distinction; fame; - especially in the plural; as, to win laurels.

A crown or wreath made especially of the leaves and branches of the laurel and given as a sign of honor or victory.

An English gold coin made in 1619, and so called because the king's head on it was crowned with laurel.

Often bays Honor; renown.

Any of various aromatic trees of the laurel family

Reddish-brown

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)

To utter a deep, prolonged bark.

To pursue or challenge with barking

To express by barking or howling

To bring to bay

(obsolete) A berry.

, a tree or shrub of the family Lauraceae, having dark green leaves and berries.

Bay leaf, the leaf of this or certain other species of tree or shrub, used as a herb.

The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.

A tract covered with bay trees.

A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeche in Mexico.

(geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more-or-less three-quarters surrounded by land.

A bank or dam to keep back water.

An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.

An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.

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.

A bay window.

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.

A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses.

A horse of this color.

(intransitive) To howl.

(transitive) To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.

(transitive) To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds.

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

Reddish brown; of the color of a chestnut; - applied to the color of horses.

An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the same general character.

A small body of water set off from the main body; as a compartment containing water for a wheel; the portion of a canal just outside of the gates of a lock, etc.

A recess or indentation shaped like a bay.

A principal compartment of the walls, roof, or other part of a building, or of the whole building, as marked off by the buttresses, vaulting, mullions of a window, etc.; one of the main divisions of any structure, as the part of a bridge between two piers.

A compartment in a barn, for depositing hay, or grain in the stalks.

A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeachy Bay.

A berry, particularly of the laurel.

The laurel tree (Laurus nobilis). Hence, in the plural, an honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or excellence, anciently made or consisting of branches of the laurel.

A tract covered with bay trees.

Deep-toned, prolonged barking.

A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.

A bank or dam to keep back water.

To bark, as a dog with a deep voice does, at his game.

To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay; as, to bay the bear.

To bathe.

To dam, as water; - with up or back.

An indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

The sound of a hound on the scent

Small Mediterranean evergreen tree with small blackish berries and glossy aromatic leaves used for flavoring in cooking; also used by ancient Greeks to crown victors

A compartment on a ship between decks; often used as a hospital;

A compartment in an aircraft used for some specific purpose;

A small recess opening off a larger room

A horse of a moderate reddish-brown color

Utter in deep prolonged tones

Bark with prolonged noises, of dogs

(used of animals especially a horse) of a moderate reddish-brown color