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Webster 1913 Edition

Lettuce

Let′tuce

(lĕt′tĭs)
,
Noun.
[OE.
letuce
, prob. through Old French from some Late Latin derivative of L.
lactuca
lettuce, which, according to Varro, is fr.
lac
,
lactis
, milk, on account of the milky white juice which flows from it when it is cut: cf. F.
laitue
. Cf.
Lacteal
,
Lactucic
.]
1.
(Bot.)
A composite plant of the genus
Lactuca
(
Lactuca sativa
), the leaves of which are used as salad. Plants of this genus yield a milky juice, from which lactucarium is obtained. The commonest wild lettuce of the United States is
Lactuca Canadensis
.
Hare’s lettuce
,
Lamb's lettuce
.
See under
Hare
, and
Lamb
.
–
Lettuce opium
.
See
Lactucarium
.
–
Sea lettuce
,
certain papery green seaweeds of the genus
Ulva
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Lettuce

LETTUCE

,
Noun.
let'tis. [L. lactuca, according to Varro, from lac, milk.]
A genus of plants, the Lactuca, of many species, some of which are used as salads.

Definition 2025

lettuce

lettuce

English

Romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longifolia)

Noun

lettuce ‎(countable and uncountable, plural lettuces)

  1. An edible plant, Lactuca sativa and its close relatives, having a head of green and/or purple leaves.
  2. (uncountable) The leaves of the lettuce plant, eaten as a vegetable; as a dish often mixed with other ingredients, dressing etc.
    I’ll have a ham sandwich with lettuce and tomato.
  3. (uncountable, US, slang) United States paper currency; dollars.

Synonyms

Translations

Derived terms

See also

Etymology

From Middle English letuse, of uncertain precise origin; related to Old French laitue, from Latin lactūca ‎(“lettuce”), from lac ‎(“milk”), because of the milky fluid in its stalks.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈlɛtɪs/

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