Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (2)
1.
a poet who is unofficially regarded as holding an honorary position in a particular group or region;
- Example: "she is the poet laureate of all lyricists"- Example: "he is the poet laureate of Arkansas"2.
the poet officially appointed to the royal household in Great Britain;
- Example: "the poet laureate is expected to provide poems for great national occasions"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
poet laureate
n 1: 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"
2: the poet officially appointed to the royal household in Great
Britain; "the poet laureate is expected to provide poems for
great national occasions"