Bay, perhaps, where thoroughfare is out of bounds (4)
I believe the answer is:
tree
'bay perhaps' is the definition.
(I know that Laurus nobilis is a type of laurel)
'thoroughfare is out of bounds' is the wordplay.
'thoroughfare' becomes 'street' (street is a kind of thoroughfare).
'is out of bounds' means to look at the middle letters (the bounds or edges of the word are removed).
The central letters of 'street' are 'TREE'.
'where' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tree that I've seen before include "Stand for mugs" , "Care for shoes" , "eg Cedar" , "Plant with a main trunk and branches" , "Eg, cypress" .)