'Poet laureate' definitions:

Definition of 'poet laureate'

From: WordNet
noun
A poet who is unofficially regarded as holding an honorary position in a particular group or region; "she is the poet laureate of all lyricists"; "he is the poet laureate of Arkansas"
noun
The poet officially appointed to the royal household in Great Britain; "the poet laureate is expected to provide poems for great national occasions"

Definition of 'Poet laureate'

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]

Definition of 'Poet laureate'

From: GCIDE
  • Poet \Po"et\, n. [F. po["e]te, L. po["e]ta, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to make. Cf. Poem.] One skilled in making poetry; one who has a particular genius for metrical composition; the author of a poem; an imaginative thinker or writer. [1913 Webster]
  • The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • A poet is a maker, as the word signifies. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • Poet laureate. See under Laureate. [1913 Webster]