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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

See Examples For:

lucerne Lucerne

While the conservancy and its partners figured out what to do, rangers ferried lucerne pellets and other food to the island to help keep the giraffes alive.

From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2025

We sat down as one big happy family for our first course: a salad of lucerne, clover, hazelnuts, yarrow and fried bread cubes.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 25, 2019

We hopped out, baskets in hand, to collect yarrow and lucerne, which tastes like peas.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 25, 2019

A worker throws lucerne, also known as alfalfa, to white rhinos on Hume’s farm.

From National Geographic ● Jan. 22, 2016

“I hope Baba Joseph has never touched that ugly crocodile,” she said as she dangled a sprig of lucerne over the guinea pigs to see if she could make them stand on their hind legs.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

A hiker discovered the bodies on 26 July on the Trift Glacier, south of the Swiss city of Lucerne, officials said.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Multiple homes and outbuildings were on fire after a brush fire quickly spread in Lucerne Valley, fire officials said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Vice President JD Vance was to lead an American delegation to Lucerne, Switzerland, this weekend for meetings with Iranian officials and mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

The uber-plush Burgenstock resort perched high above Switzerland's Lake Lucerne provides the dramatic setting for Friday's planned signing of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding to end nearly four months of war.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

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

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