sweet bay

noun

1

: laurel sense 1

2

: a magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) of the eastern U.S. that has fragrant white flowers and leaves with glaucous undersides

Examples of sweet bay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The best tree for you, Sarah, is our native sweet bay magnolia, botanical name Magnolia Virginiana. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026

For dessert, the subtly sweet bay leaf slice ($12) has an ethereal texture that falls somewhere between cake and cheesecake. — Elena Kadvany, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2023

Fenderbosch noted the status of the city as a Tree USA City and that the sweet bay magnolia will be designated as the Arbor Tree 2021. — Linda Gandee, cleveland, 26 Apr. 2021

Handfuls of shrimp, clams, mussels, crab claws, sweet bay oysters and half of a Maine lobster go into the kettle. — Michael Hiller, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1716, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sweet bay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• assez
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway