lasagna

American  

[luh-zahn-yuh, lah-] / ləˈzɑn yə, lɑ- /

Or lasagne

noun

1. large, flat, rectangular strips of pasta.

2. a baked dish consisting of layers of this pasta, cheese, tomato sauce, and usually meat.

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Etymology

Origin of lasagna

1840–50; < Italian < Vulgar Latin *lasania cooking pot (hence, apparently, the contents of the pot), for Latin lasanum, lasanus chamber pot < Greek lásana (plural), originally, trivet or stand for a pot

Explanation

If you want to be the star of the potluck, bring a big pan of lasagna. Layers of tender noodles, savory red sauce, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella will tempt almost everyone. Lasagna is the name for both a type of wide, flat pasta and the delicious dish you make by layering that pasta with other ingredients and baking. This Italian word can also be spelled lasagne, which is actually its plural form. The earliest known lasagna recipe dates from the 1500s, when historians describe it being made from fermented dough, spices, and cheese.

Example Sentences

“Well, you could add it to your makeshift lasagna, for health and longevity.”

From Slate • May 6, 2026

A popular wintertime meal, lasagna is decadent yet difficult to make, contrary to popular belief.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

I once visited a friend who had just had a baby and she asked me to grab a lasagna from the freezer to pop in the oven.

From Salon • Jan. 19, 2026

And then there’s a lasagna that’s just, like, full-on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

Each of us had a huge square of lasagna that oozed melted cheese and tomato sauce.

From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence

Related Words

• gnocchi
• linguine
• macaroni
• ravioli
• spaghetti
• tortellini