lawn

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈlȯn  ˈlän 

1

archaic : an open space between woods : glade

2

: ground (as around a house or in a garden or park) that is covered with grass and is kept mowed

3

: a relatively even layer of bacteria covering the surface of a culture medium

lawn adjective

or lawny

ˈlȯ-nē 

ˈlä-

lawn

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a fine sheer linen or cotton fabric of plain weave that is thinner than cambric

lawny adjective

Examples of lawn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Burning nettle can also be spotkilled with a nonselective or broadleaf lawn herbicide following label instructions. —Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

Make Sure Your Problem Is Gophers Gophers are not the only tunneling creatures that can make a mess of your lawn. —David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026

Improving drainage, overseeding, fertilizing, and liming can help your lawn outcompete creeping buttercup. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026

Amazon is offering huge discounts on everything from beauty and kitchen to electronics and lawn tools. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English launde, from Anglo-French land, launde wood, unwooded field, of Celtic origin; akin to Middle Irish lann land — more at land

Noun (2)

Middle English lawne, laund, probably from Laon, France

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lawn

• lawn bowling
• lawn chair
• lawn mower
• lawn party
• lawn tennis
• mow the lawn

Rhymes for lawn

• aune
• bon
• bonne
• brawn
• chon
• con
• conn
• crohn
• dawn
• drawn
• fawn
• gone

Kids Definition

lawn

1 of 2 noun

ˈlȯn 

ˈlän

: ground covered with grass that is kept mowed

lawn

2 of 2 noun

: a fine sheer linen or cotton fabric

Etymology

Noun

Middle English launde "an open space between woods," from early French lande "land overgrown with shrubs"; of Celtic origin

Noun

Middle English lawn "a sheer fabric," probably from Laon, a town in France where linen was made

Medical Definition

lawn

noun

ˈlȯn, ˈlän 

: a relatively even layer of bacteria covering the surface of a culture medium