mountain laurel
- noun
- /ˈmaʊntən ˈlɔːrəl/
- US
:
laurel de California
- The aromatic leaves of the mountain laurel released a pleasant scent when crushed.
Examples
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The wood of the mountain laurel is prized for making tool handles and furniture.
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On our hike, we spotted a mountain laurel in full bloom near the stream.
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The mountain laurel blooms beautifully in spring.
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Many hikers admire the mountain laurel along the trail.
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On our hike, we spotted a mountain laurel with its fragrant flowers near the stream.
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The aromatic leaves of the mountain laurel can be used in natural remedies.
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The wood of the mountain laurel is known for its toughness and durability.
Synonyms
A tree from the Pacific coast of North America with strong-smelling leaves and hard wood
A coastal tree with fragrant leaves, small flowers, and olive-like fruit
A Pacific coastal tree with scented leaves and hard wood used for furniture
A tree with leaves that smell nice, small fruits like olives, and very hard wood
A coastal tree with fragrant leaves, small clusters of creamy flowers, and olive-like fruit
A tree that grows by the coast with aromatic leaves, fruit like olives, and very hard wood
A tree from the west coast of North America with strong-smelling leaves and hard wood
A tree that has leaves with a strong smell and gives hard wood for furniture
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'mountain laurel' is directly interpretable as a type of laurel associated with mountains — 'mountain' modifies 'laurel' and the meaning is a laurel plant found in mountainous areas. This noun+noun compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically obvious, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer it denotes a specific kind of laurel.
Etymology
Mountain laurel on the Pacific coast got its name in a similar way: its glossy, often fragrant leaves reminded people of the true laurel, and it was found in higher, wooded places — the mountain part. So the name links the look or smell of a laurel with the plant's mountain habitat.
