What does "lucerne" mean?
Alfalfa.
Lucerne
name, noun
name, noun ·2 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Alfalfa.
- Grammar: lucerne is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: alfalfa, medicago sativa, luzern.
- Usage evidence: The duration of lucerne is 6 to 10 years; though it sometimes, like clover, suffers from the winter. To make lucerne into hay, it should lie in the swath to wilt, and then be put into small grass-cocks with a fork (not rolled) to cure. After standing a day or two, the cocks may be opened two or three hours under a bright sun, the hay turned, and soon after housed. If spread like ordinary grass, the leaves dry and crumble ere the haulm or stalks are cured, and thus the best part of the fodder is lost. I have mixed lucerne, partially cured, in alternate strata with dry barley-straw on the mow, and found that cattle greedily consumed both in winter, when fed out in the yard. Lucerne may be sown till the 15th of May, at the rate of sixteen pounds to the acre. The soil should be dry and loose, rich and clean, and the subsoil pervious, so that the tap-roots may extend down […]
How to use "lucerne"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "lucerne" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "lucerne" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "lucerne" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "lucerne" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "lucerne" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "alfalfa" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Alfalfa. British, uncountable
"The duration of lucerne is 6 to 10 years; though it sometimes, like clover, suffers from the winter. To make lucerne into hay, it should lie in the swath to wilt, and then be put into small grass-cocks with a fork (not rolled) to cure. After standing a day or two, the cocks may be opened two or three hours under a bright sun, the hay turned, and soon after housed. If spread like ordinary grass, the leaves dry and crumble ere the haulm or stalks are cured, and thus the best part of the fodder is lost. I have mixed lucerne, partially cured, in alternate strata with dry barley-straw on the mow, and found that cattle greedily consumed both in winter, when fed out in the yard. Lucerne may be sown till the 15th of May, at the rate of sixteen pounds to the acre. The soil should be dry and loose, rich and clean, and the subsoil pervious, so that the tap-roots may extend down […]"
- 2 important European leguminous forage plant with trifoliate leaves and blue-violet flowers grown widely as a pasture and hay crop wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A canton of Switzerland.
- 2 The capital city of Lucerne canton, Switzerland.
- 3 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; A census-designated place in Lake County, California.
- 4 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; An unincorporated community in Weld County, Colorado, named for the plant lucerne.
- 5 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; An unincorporated community in Harrison Township, Cass County, Indiana.
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; A ghost town in Adell Township, Sheridan County, Kansas.
- 7 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; A former settlement in Pittsfield Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan.
- 8 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; A village in Putnam County, Missouri.
- 9 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; A ghost town in Center Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.
- 10 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; An unincorporated community in Knox County, Ohio.
- 11 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; An unincorporated community in Chelan County, Washington.
- 12 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; An unincorporated community in Gilmer County, West Virginia.
- 13 A number of places in the United States (others are spelt Luzerne):; A census-designated place in Hot Springs County, Wyoming.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The duration of lucerne is 6 to 10 years; though it sometimes, like clover, suffers from the winter. To make lucerne into hay, it should lie in the swath to wilt, and then be put into small grass-cocks with a fork (not rolled) to cure. After standing a day or two, the cocks may be opened two or three hours under a bright sun, the hay turned, and soon after housed. If spread like ordinary grass, the leaves dry and crumble ere the haulm or stalks are cured, and thus the best part of the fodder is lost. I have mixed lucerne, partially cured, in alternate strata with dry barley-straw on the mow, and found that cattle greedily consumed both in winter, when fed out in the yard. Lucerne may be sown till the 15th of May, at the rate of sixteen pounds to the acre. The soil should be dry and loose, rich and clean, and the subsoil pervious, so that the tap-roots may extend down […]"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "lucerne"?
Common synonyms include: alfalfa, medicago sativa, luzern.
How do you use "lucerne" in a sentence?
The duration of lucerne is 6 to 10 years; though it sometimes, like clover, suffers from the winter. To make lucerne into hay, it should lie in the swath to wilt, and then be put into small grass-cocks with a fork (not rolled) to cure. After standing a day or two, the cocks may be opened two or three hours under a bright sun, the hay turned, and soon after housed. If spread like ordinary grass, the leaves dry and crumble ere the haulm or stalks are cured, and thus the best part of the fodder is lost. I have mixed lucerne, partially cured, in alternate strata with dry barley-straw on the mow, and found that cattle greedily consumed both in winter, when fed out in the yard. Lucerne may be sown till the 15th of May, at the rate of sixteen pounds to the acre. The soil should be dry and loose, rich and clean, and the subsoil pervious, so that the tap-roots may extend down […]
Etymology
Etymology 1
From French Lucerne, known in Swiss German as Lozärn, from Medieval Latin Lucernense, Luciaria, Lucerna, of uncertain origin, but possibly from Latin lūcĭus (“pike”) with the suffix -ārĭa, as in "place with a large number of pike." Popular etymology associated it with lucerna (“lantern”), though both words are related to lux (“light”). Also compare Leodegar, Burgundian bishop of Autun.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French luzerne.