Definition of "sweet bay" [sweet bay]

• A shrub or small tree (Magnolia virginiana) of the southeast United States and eastern coastal areas north to Massachusetts, having large fragrant white flowers and red fruit. (noun)
• See laurel. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.