1 bay leaf | Definition of bay leaf

bay leaf

noun

Definition of bay leaf

: the dried leaf of the European laurel (Laurus nobilis) used in cooking

Examples of bay leaf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Remove the bay leaf and then use an immersion or standing blender to puree the soup. Los Angeles Times, "A summer squash soup with a pedigree," 24 Aug. 2019 Reduce heat to medium, add onions, peppers, garlic and bay leaf and cook for 5 minutes, until vegetables soften. Simran Singh, The Mercury News, "Quick Cook: How to make Zoe’s Basque Style Braised Chicken," 5 Aug. 2019 Add milk, garlic, bay leaf, and salt and pepper to taste. Country Living, "Fennel Gratin," 4 Nov. 2010 Reduce heat and add orange juice, lime juice, salt, pepper, garlic and bay leaf. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Carnitas street tacos you can make at home," 30 July 2019 This alternative quick recipe includes cloves, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns and bay leaves in the brine. Becky Krystal, Washington Post, "Sassy, salty preserved lemons belong in your pantry. Here’s how to use them.," 15 July 2019 In a 2-quart stainless steel saucepan, combine vinegar, water, salt, sugar, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns and garlic. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Quick pickling gives fresh veggies and fruit a tangy crunch in a day or less," 16 July 2019 Add onions, a good pinch of salt, pepper and bay leaf or thyme. Bill St. John, The Denver Post, "The art of finishing sauces for fish," 5 June 2019 Stir in beans, chile flakes, bay leaves, bread and stock. Kitty Greenwald, WSJ, "The Most Satisfying Vegetable Soup," 28 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bay leaf.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of bay leaf

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for bay leaf

bay leaf

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bay leaf

: a dried leaf from the bay tree that has a sweet smell and is used in cooking

More from Merriam-Webster on bay leaf

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with bay leaf

Nglish: Translation of bay leaf for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bay leaf