lucerne

or lu·cern

[ loo-surn ]

noun

Origin of lucerne

1
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
  1. a canton in central Switzerland. 576 sq. mi. (1,490 sq. km).

  2. the capital of this canton, on Lake of Lucerne.

  1. 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).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lucerne in a sentence

  • 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
  1. British another name for alfalfa

British Dictionary definitions for Lucerne (2 of 2)

Lucerne

/ (luːˈsɜːn, French lysɛrn) /


noun
  1. 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)

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

  1. 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