Definition

Noun 1. A small tree of the southern United States having dark red heartwood: This refers to a specific type of small tree, Persea borbonia, native to the southeastern United States. It is characterized by its aromatic leaves and distinctive dark red inner wood (heartwood).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The laurel-tree is prized by woodworkers for its beautiful, dark red heartwood.
  • We sat in the shade of a large laurel-tree.
  • The forest contained several species, including the red bay or laurel-tree.

Advanced Usage

• The term laurel-tree is often used in botanical and forestry contexts to distinguish this specific North American tree from other, unrelated trees also commonly called "laurel," such as the bay laurel ().

Variants and Related Words

• Red Bay: A common alternative name for the same tree species ().
• Swamp Bay: Another name for this tree, often used in reference to its habitat.
• Laurel (noun): A broader term for various shrubs and trees with glossy, evergreen leaves, which can cause confusion. The laurel-tree () is one specific type.

Synonyms

• Red bay
• Swamp bay
• (scientific name)

Related Phrases

• Heartwood: The dense, inner part of a tree trunk, yielding the hardest wood. This is a key identifying feature of the laurel-tree.

Noun

1. small tree of southern United States having dark red heartwood