lucerne

or lu·cern

[ loo-surn ]

noun

alfalfa.

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

Words Nearby lucerne

Other definitions for Lucerne (2 of 2)

Lucerne

[ loo-surn; French ly-sern ]

noun

a canton in central Switzerland. 576 sq. mi. (1,490 sq. km).
the capital of this canton, on Lake of Lucerne.

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

German Luzern.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lucerne in a sentence

Then in October, the WEF opted to relocate to lucerne, a Swiss city with a more temperate climate.
World Economic Forum moves 2021 annual meeting from Davos to Singapore to escape COVID-19 | eamonbarrett | December 8, 2020 | Fortune
Battle of Sempach, in the canton of lucerne, which established the independence of Switzerland.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
Clover, lucerne, ryegrass and similar grasses have been introduced to improve and vary the fodder.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 | Various
lucerne, in Switzerland does not excel it in romantic grandeur of situation.
The Raid of John Brown at Harper's Ferry as I Saw It | Rev. Samuel Vanderlip Leech
We went to lucerne, and thence to Como, where I intended to leave her.
Paul Patoff | F. Marion Crawford

Elena had spent part of the summer at lucerne,—she had just come from Paris.
The Child of Pleasure | Gabriele D'Annunzio

British Dictionary definitions for lucerne (1 of 2)

lucerne

/ (luːˈsɜːn) /

noun

British another name for alfalfa

British Dictionary definitions for Lucerne (2 of 2)

Lucerne

/ (luːˈsɜːn, French lysɛrn) /

noun

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

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

German name (for senses 1 and 2): Luzern

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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