lettuce

[ let-is ]

noun

1. a cultivated plant, Lactuca sativa, occurring in many varieties and having succulent leaves used for salads.
2. any species of Lactuca.
3. Slang. U.S. dollar bills; greenbacks.

lettuce

/ ˈlɛtɪs /

noun

1. any of various plants of the genus Lactuca, esp L. sativa, which is cultivated in many varieties for its large edible leaves: family Asteraceae (composites)
2. the leaves of any of these varieties, which are eaten in salads
3. any of various plants that resemble true lettuce, such as lamb's lettuce and sea lettuce

Word History and Origins

Origin of lettuce¹

1250–1300; 1925–30 lettuce fordef 3; Middle English letuse, apparently < Old French laitues, plural of laitue < Latin lactūca a lettuce, perhaps derivative of lac, stem lact- milk, with termination as in erūca rocket ² (or by association with Greek galaktoûchos having milk)

Word History and Origins

Origin of lettuce¹

C13: probably from Old French laitues, pl of laitue, from Latin lactūca, from lac- milk, because of its milky juice

Example Sentences

The other half of America will feel the hurt later, when tariffed toilet paper costs $10 a roll and lettuce is sold by the leaf because there are only 10 documented workers left in the country to pick the stuff.

From Los Angeles Times

An effective, easy-to-use way to reduce plastics in the home, the bags are sized for their intended items, color-coded and clearly labeled, so you can see at a glance which one holds the lettuce.

From Los Angeles Times

David McDowall, boss of Stonegate Group, whose pubs include Slug & Lettuce, Yates's and Walkabout, said thousands of landlords currently make just 12p of profit for every pint of beer they sell.

From BBC

The fresh croaker wrapped in a lettuce leaf deserves an award.

From Salon

“We are not vegetarians, but I am a very big vegetable eater, and I’d say every day something in our meals comes from the garden. We’re everyday-salad people so I always plant tons of lettuce in the winter, plus mustards and collards and kale,” Angel said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bread
• cabbage