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

The American Cornhole League is coming to Overland Park this weekend to showcase the best players of the popular lawn game and invite amateurs to play alongside the pros. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026

Corey Shearer Obtained by CBS News Sacramento Sacramento County sheriff's deputies responded to reports of gunfire and found Shearer on the front lawn with multiple gunshot wounds. —Richard Ramos, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

Show up on Wednesday evenings during warm months for an outdoor barbecue on the expansive main lawn. —The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026

Temperatures are trending upward across Northern California, which may start drying out lawns across the region. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 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