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

While the weather didn’t affect the show, the lawn sections in the back were very muddy. — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 4 Oct. 2026

The game begins with an animation of the White House, its lawn covered with cranes and backhoes. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Who stole the campaign lawn signs from their neighbors’ yards? — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

These had worked adequately for isolated farmers, but too many could overwhelm the absorptive capacity of the ground—especially if sprinklers were watering the lawns—causing effluent to rise to the surface or enter waterways. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 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