wood laurel
- noun
- US
:
laurel de montaña
- The wood laurel blooms beautifully in late spring, adding color to the garden.
Examples
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The wood laurel thrives in shaded areas.
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The leaves of the wood laurel are often used in decorative arrangements.
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I planted a wood laurel by the porch for its fragrant flowers.
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I planted a wood laurel in my garden last spring.
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I planted a wood laurel by the porch for its fragrant flowers.
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The wood laurel blooms beautifully in late spring, adding color to the garden.
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The leaves of the wood laurel are often used in decorative arrangements.
Synonyms
An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and white or pink flowers
An evergreen shrub also called mountain laurel, with glossy leaves and white or pink flowers that grows in North America
An evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and clusters of pink or white flowers
An evergreen shrub with pretty flowers often called mountain laurel from North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
wood + laurel
The compound 'wood laurel' is a straightforward noun–noun combination where 'wood' modifies 'laurel' to indicate a type or habitat (a laurel that grows in woods). This subtype/habitat compounding is a common and productive pattern in English (and cross-linguistically), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Wood laurel was named the same way by gardeners: wood for the places it grows and laurel for its laurel-like leaves and pretty flowers. That is why the name refers to an evergreen, laurel-like shrub found near wooded spots.
