laureate
laureate Lexical Profile
laureate Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who is honored with an award for outstanding creative, intellectual, or scientific achievement, especially a recipient of the Nobel Prize.
"The university invited a Nobel laureate in physics to deliver the keynote address at commencement."
A poet officially appointed by a monarch, government, or cultural institution to compose poems for state occasions and promote literary arts.
"Several former laureates gathered at the library to read selections from their published works."
• adjective
Worthy of the greatest honor or distinction, especially in recognition of literary, artistic, or academic excellence.
"As the nation's newly appointed poet laureate, she composed a moving ode for the public ceremony."
Crowned or wreathed with laurel leaves as an ancient emblem of victory or poetic achievement.
"The museum displayed several Roman coins depicting the laureate head of the emperor."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used as a title in 'poet laureate', the adjective 'laureate' is placed postpositively after the noun, and the plural is most formally 'poets laureate' (though 'poet laureates' is also widely accepted).
• Rhymes for laureate
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Latin laureatus ('crowned with laurel'), from laurea ('laurel tree or wreath'), in reference to the ancient Greek and Roman custom of crowning distinguished poets and heroes with wreaths of bay laurel sacred to Apollo.