lasagna

American  

[luh-zahn-yuh, lah-] / ləˈzɑn yə, lɑ- /

Or lasagne

noun

1. large, flat, rectangular strips of pasta.

2. a baked dish consisting of layers of this pasta, cheese, tomato sauce, and usually meat.

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Etymology

Origin of lasagna

1840–50; < Italian < Vulgar Latin *lasania cooking pot (hence, apparently, the contents of the pot), for Latin lasanum, lasanus chamber pot < Greek lásana (plural), originally, trivet or stand for a pot

Explanation

If you want to be the star of the potluck, bring a big pan of lasagna. Layers of tender noodles, savory red sauce, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella will tempt almost everyone. Lasagna is the name for both a type of wide, flat pasta and the delicious dish you make by layering that pasta with other ingredients and baking. This Italian word can also be spelled lasagne, which is actually its plural form. The earliest known lasagna recipe dates from the 1500s, when historians describe it being made from fermented dough, spices, and cheese.

Example Sentences

“People tend to think that lasagna is simple, but it’s actually a bit more complicated than the braised short ribs,” Matijevich says.

From Salon • Feb. 20, 2026

And then there’s a lasagna that’s just, like, full-on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

Whether they’re stuffed with brisket and “max” sauce, glazed in kimchi caramel, or tucked into a lasagna pan, the point isn’t purity.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2025

I think Pete has older parents, and they sit in front of the TV and eat lasagna.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2024

The lasagna is extra tough tonight, being that Mom boiled the pasta in Dad’s red sauce in an attempt to use as little water as possible.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Related Words

• gnocchi
• linguine
• macaroni
• ravioli
• spaghetti
• tortellini