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

In the U.K., one person died in June in an E. coli outbreak linked to lettuce that sickened at least 275 people.

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

Similarly, the Augmented Makeline robot is an automated bowl and salad maker that dispenses rice, lettuce and other ingredients into a bowl beneath the counter, churning out Chipotle’s famous burrito bowls.

From Los Angeles Times

They paint, play with bubbles and forage for food like frozen strawberries, string beans and heads of lettuce.

From Los Angeles Times

A plain-clothed Metropolitan Police officer alerted her to the stunt - which showed a lettuce and the caption "I crashed the economy", triggering the former PM to walk off stage.

From BBC

Related Words

• bread
• cabbage