bay tree
bay tree — noun
1. a small evergreen tree with shiny, sweet-smelling leaves that are often dried an
a small evergreen tree with shiny, sweet-smelling leaves that are often dried and used to flavour food
The cook picked two leaves from the bay tree for the stew.
leaves from the bay tree
A young bay tree grew in a pot beside the kitchen door.
young bay tree
The gardener clipped the bay tree so it would stay small enough for the balcony.
Dried leaves from the bay tree gave the soup a warm, herbal smell.
- bay laurel
more exact botanical name for the usual culinary tree
- laurel
broader related name, often used for the same plant or similar plants
文法句型
a bay tree
bay tree leaves
plant a bay tree
用法筆記
In cooking, the leaf is usually called a bay leaf. The tree itself is also called a bay laurel or laurel.
常見錯誤
Do not confuse a bay tree with a bay as a body of water; only the tree has aromatic leaves used in cooking.
bay tree — phrase
1. the Mediterranean evergreen tree also called bay laurel, whose fragrant leaves a
the Mediterranean evergreen tree also called bay laurel, whose fragrant leaves are used in cooking
The label identified the herb plant as the bay tree, or Laurus nobilis.
bay tree, or Laurus nobilis
In the herb garden, the bay tree kept its dark leaves through winter.
the bay tree kept its leaves
Ancient stories often connect the bay tree with wreaths for winners.
The chef said the bay tree is the source of those bay leaves.
- bay laurel
the exact common name for Laurus nobilis
- laurel
shorter name that can also refer to related trees or shrubs
文法句型
the bay tree
bay tree leaves
bay tree berries
用法筆記
This is the exact botanical sense behind the everyday cooking word. In ordinary recipes, people usually talk about bay leaves rather than the bay tree.
2. a California laurel tree, a North American evergreen with aromatic leaves
a California laurel tree, a North American evergreen with aromatic leaves
The trail guide pointed out a California bay tree near the creek.
California bay tree
Sharp-smelling leaves fell from the bay tree above the picnic table.
aromatic leaves
Local plant lists describe the native bay tree as common in the canyon.
Mina photographed the tall bay tree during a field course in northern California.
- California laurel
the clearer common name for this plant
- California bay
another common name for the same tree
文法句型
California bay tree
bay tree in California
native bay tree
用法筆記
This rare botanical use refers to California laurel, not the Mediterranean culinary bay laurel.
常見錯誤
In recipes, 'bay leaf' usually means the Mediterranean bay laurel leaf, not necessarily California laurel.
3. a bay rum tree, a tropical evergreen whose leaves can be used for fragrant oil
a bay rum tree, a tropical evergreen whose leaves can be used for fragrant oil
The old perfume recipe called for oil from the bay tree.
oil from the bay tree
On the island tour, the guide described the bay tree used in bay rum.
bay tree used in bay rum
The nursery sold a small bay rum tree for collectors of fragrant plants.
Its leaves smelled stronger than the kitchen bay tree that Amira kept in a pot.
- bay rum tree
clearer name for this tropical plant
- West Indian bay tree
another name that points to the same plant
文法句型
bay rum tree
West Indian bay tree
oil from the bay tree
用法筆記
This is a rare plant-name sense. It is different from the bay tree whose dried leaves are common in soups and stews.