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

From Washington Post ● Jul. 25, 2019

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

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

From National Geographic ● Jan. 22, 2016

Nhamo gathered up the lucerne and trotted off to the village.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

The uber-plush Burgenstock resort perched high above Switzerland's Lake Lucerne -- the dramatic setting for Sunday's US-Iran talks -- is well-accustomed to hosting world leaders, movie icons and peace negotiations.

From Barron's ● Jun. 21, 2026

Vice President JD Vance, alongside Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, had been expected to travel Friday to Lucerne, Switzerland, for meeting with Iranian counterparts and mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

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

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

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

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