'Laureate' definitions:

Definition of 'laureate'

adjective

Worthy of the greatest honor or distinction; "The nation's pediatrician laureate is preparing to lay down his black bag"- James Traub

noun

Someone honored for great achievements; figuratively someone crowned with a laurel wreath

From: GCIDE

Laureate \Lau"re*ate\, n.
1. One crowned with laurel; a poet laureate. "A learned laureate." --Cleveland. [1913 Webster]
2. A person who has been presented with an award for some distinguished achievement; as, a Nobel laureate; the Pris de Rome laureate; the Music Director Laureate; the conductor laureate. [PJC]

From: GCIDE

Laureate \Lau"re*ate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laureated; p. pr. & vb. n. Laureating.] To honor with a wreath of laurel, as formerly was done in bestowing a degree at the English universities. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Laureate \Lau"re*ate\, a. [L. laureatus, fr. laurea laurel tree, fr. laureus of laurel, fr. laurus laurel: cf. F. laur['e]at. Cf. Laurel.] Crowned, or decked, with laurel. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
To strew the laureate hearse where Lycid lies. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Soft on her lap her laureate son reclines. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
Poet laureate. (b) One who received an honorable degree in grammar, including poetry and rhetoric, at the English universities; -- so called as being presented with a wreath of laurel. [Obs.] (b) Formerly, an officer of the king's household, whose business was to compose an ode annually for the king's birthday, and other suitable occasions; now, a poet officially distinguished by such honorary title, the office being a sinecure. It is said this title was first given in the time of Edward IV. [Eng.] (c) A poet who has been publicly recognized as the most pre-eminent poet of a country or region; as, the poet laureate of the United States. [1913 Webster +PJC]