luau
Americannoun
-
a feast of Hawaiian food, usually held outdoors and usually accompanied by Hawaiian entertainment.
-
a cooked dish of taro leaves, usually prepared with coconut cream and octopus or chicken.
noun
-
a feast of Hawaiian food
-
a dish of taro leaves usually prepared with coconut cream and octopus or chicken
Etymology
Origin of luau
First recorded in 1835–45, luau is from the Hawaiian word lū'au
Explanation
A luau is a Hawaiian party, often with music and dancing. If you wear a grass skirt and lei, you will most likely fit in at a luau. The very first luau was thrown by King Kamehameha II in 1819, as a way to celebrate the end of the Hawaiian cultural taboo against men and women eating together. The word luau means "young taro tops" in Hawaiian, and this is one of the traditional foods served at a luau, usually with squid or chicken cooked in coconut milk.
Vocabulary lists containing luau
2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Scrabble: Four-Letter Words with 3 Vowels
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Hey, Kiddo
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On the final evening, they attended an outdoor banquet lit by tiki torches that featured a whole roasted luau pig.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025
But people need work, Freitas said, and the luau employs about 160 people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2024
The luau partnered with Alaska Airlines for visitors to donate to the Kākoʻo Maui Fund, a campaign led by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to deploy resources to communities impacted by the Maui wildfires.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 21, 2023
And then they all start wearing Hawaiian shirts because it represents luau.
From Slate ● May 8, 2023
We could have held a luau on that bus, with a roast pig and hula dancers, and he would have been none the wiser.
From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
