lucerne

or lu·cern

[ loo-surn ]
/ luˈsɜrn /

noun

alfalfa.

Origin of lucerne

1620–30; alteration (by association with Latin lucerna lamp) of French luzerne < Provençal luzerno glowworm (the plant was so called in allusion to its bright seeds); akin to Old Provençal luzerna lamp < Vulgar Latin *lūcerna, for Latin lucerna. See lucid

Words nearby lucerne

lucas, lucas van leyden, lucca, luce, lucent, lucerne, luces, lucha libre, luchow, lucia, lucia di lammermoor

Definition for lucerne (2 of 2)

Lucerne
[ loo-surn; French ly-sern ]
/ luˈsɜrn; French lüˈsɛrn /

noun

a canton in central Switzerland. 576 sq. mi. (1490 sq. km).
the capital of this canton, on Lake of Lucerne.
Lake of. Also called Lake of the Four Forest Cantons. a lake in central Switzerland. 24 miles (39 km) long; 44 sq. mi. (114 sq. km).
German Luzern.

Example sentences from the Web for lucerne

British Dictionary definitions for lucerne (1 of 2)

lucerne
/ (luːˈsɜːn) /

noun

British another name for alfalfa

British Dictionary definitions for lucerne (2 of 2)

Lucerne
/ (luːˈsɜːn, French lysɛrn) /

noun

a canton in central Switzerland, northwest of Lake Lucerne: joined the Swiss Confederacy in 1332. Pop: 352 300 (2002 est). Area: 1494 sq km (577 sq miles)
a city in central Switzerland, capital of Lucerne canton, on Lake Lucerne: tourist centre. Pop: 59 496 (2000)
Lake Lucerne a lake in central Switzerland: fed and drained chiefly by the River Reuss. Area: 115 sq km (44 sq miles) German name: Vierwaldstättersee
German name (for senses 1 and 2): Luzern