an American magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, having large oblong leaves and fragrant, white flowers, common on the Atlantic coast.
Origin
1710-20
Examples from the web for sweet bay
sweet bay shrimp meld perfectly with grilled corn and creamy risotto.
These depressions are called bays, named for the sweet bay, loblolly bay and red bay trees found growing around them.
These depressions are called bays, so named for the sweet bay, loblolly bay and red bay trees found growing around them.
It is dominated by a bay forest containing loblolly bay, sweet bay, pond pine and red maple.
British Dictionary definitions for sweet bay
sweet bay
noun
1.
a small tree, Magnolia virginiana, of SE North America, having large fragrant white flowers: family Magnoliaceae (magnolias) Sometimes shortened to bay