California laurel
- noun
- /ˌkælɪˈfɔrnjə ˈlɔrəl/
- US
:
laurel de California
- Aromatic leaves from the California laurel are sometimes used to flavor food.
Examples
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The wood of the California laurel is prized by craftsmen for its durability and beauty.
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We saw a mature California laurel growing beside the river during our hike.
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The California laurel is known for its fragrant leaves.
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Many hikers enjoy the smell of California laurel in the forest.
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Aromatic leaves from the California laurel are sometimes used to flavor food.
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The wood of the California laurel is prized by craftsmen for its durability and beauty.
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We saw a mature California laurel growing beside the river during our hike.
Synonyms
A tree from the Pacific coast of North America with strong-smelling leaves and hard wood
A Pacific coastal tree with scented leaves and hard wood used for furniture
A coastal tree with fragrant leaves, small flowers, and olive-like fruit
A tree with leaves that smell nice, small fruits like olives, and very hard wood
A tree that has leaves with a strong smell and gives hard wood for furniture
A tree that grows by the coast with aromatic leaves, fruit like olives, and very hard wood
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward location + noun compound: 'California' specifies the provenance and 'laurel' names the plant, so the meaning (a laurel tree associated with California) is directly derivable from the constituents. This follows common cross-linguistic naming patterns for species and place-based modifiers, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.
Etymology
California laurel likely got its name because people in California saw a tree with shiny, strong-smelling leaves that looked like the cooking laurel, often called 'bay'. So the name tells you it is a laurel-like tree from California with aromatic leaves.
