lettuce

[let-is]

noun

1. a cultivated plant, Lactuca sativa, occurring in many varieties and having succulent leaves used for salads.

2. any species of Lactuca.

3. Slang.,  U.S. dollar bills; greenbacks.

lettuce

/ ˈlɛtɪs /

noun

1. any of various plants of the genus Lactuca, esp L. sativa, which is cultivated in many varieties for its large edible leaves: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. the leaves of any of these varieties, which are eaten in salads

3. any of various plants that resemble true lettuce, such as lamb's lettuce and sea lettuce

Word History and Origins

Origin of lettuce¹

1250–1300; 1925–30 lettuce for def. 3; Middle English letuse, apparently < Old French laitues, plural of laitue < Latin lactūca a lettuce, perhaps derivative of lac, stem lact- milk, with termination as in erūca rocket ² (or by association with Greek galaktoûchos having milk)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lettuce¹

C13: probably from Old French laitues, pl of laitue, from Latin lactūca, from lac- milk, because of its milky juice

Example Sentences

A large portion of the water is used for agriculture, with much of it going to grow hay for cattle, as well as other crops including cotton, lettuce and broccoli.

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As well as rice, the team are trialling other crops including lettuce and hybrid willow that grow in waterlogged conditions.

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The classic toasted sesame roll, drizzled with olive oil, and stuffed to the brim with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion — delicious.

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The event was the brainchild of an ambitious Los Angeles–based lettuce farmer, Frank Takahashi.

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The dust particles are made up of agricultural chemicals from miles of lettuce and spinach fields, manure from livestock operations, diesel exhaust, unpaved roads and fine debris from lithium mining.

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Related Words

• bread 
• cabbage