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• lucerne
  lucerne

  noun

  alfalfa.
• Lucerne
  Lucerne

  noun

  a canton in central Switzerland. 576 sq. mi. (1,490 sq. km).

lucerne

¹ American  

[loo-surn] / luˈsɜrn /

Or lucern

noun

1. alfalfa.

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Lucerne ² American  

[loo-surn, ly-sern] / luˈsɜrn, lüˈsɛrn /

noun

1. a canton in central Switzerland. 576 sq. mi. (1,490 sq. km).

2. the capital of this canton, on Lake of Lucerne.

3. Also called Lake of the Four Forest Cantons.  Lake of. a lake in central Switzerland. 24 miles (39 km) long; 44 sq. mi. (114 sq. km).

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Lucerne ¹ British  

/ luːˈsɜːn, lysɛrn /

noun

1. 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)

2. a city in central Switzerland, capital of Lucerne canton, on Lake Lucerne: tourist centre. Pop: 59 496 (2000)

3. German name: Vierwaldstättersee.  a lake in central Switzerland: fed and drained chiefly by the River Reuss. Area: 115 sq km (44 sq miles)

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lucerne ² British  

/ luːˈsɜːn /

noun

1. another name for alfalfa

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Even the Catholic Church has experimented with AI Jesus, with a Swiss church in Lucerne experimenting with a Jesus-like chatbot that was set up to speak with churchgoers in a confessional-style setting.

From Salon • Dec. 27, 2025

At a Safeway supermarket in Washington, D.C., a dozen Lucerne eggs sold for $3.99, $4.28, $4.59, $4.69, and $4.79 on Instacart, depending on the shopper, the study showed.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

For much of the high desert, including Apple Valley and Lucerne Valley, the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, the Antelope Valley and the Morongo Basin, a wind advisory is in effect until 11 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2025

In Lucerne and again tonight they've been brilliant.

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2025

The smell— goodness, it certainly doesn’t smell like the hotel in Lucerne.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin