# lettuce

/ˈɫɛtəs/ (US) · /lˈɛtɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lettuce
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the plant or vegetable

noun · CEFR A2

a plant with large green or purple leaves that people eat in salads.

For teachers: an edible herbaceous plant, Lactuca sativa, typically grown for its leaves which are consumed as a salad vegetable.

- I bought a fresh head of lettuce to make a salad for dinner.
- The chef insisted on using only locally grown romaine lettuce, noting that the crisp texture was essential for a traditional Caesar salad.

### 2. money

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Slang

a slang word for paper money, especially US dollars.

For teachers: a slang term for paper currency, specifically United States dollar bills.

- He made a lot of lettuce working overtime this summer.
- In the gritty dialogue of the mid-century crime novel, the characters frequently referred to their stolen loot as 'lettuce'.

Teaching tip: This is a dated slang term; modern speakers are more likely to use 'cash' or 'bucks'.

### 3. long hair

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

long, thick, or messy hair on a man.

For teachers: a slang term for a man's long, flowing, or thick hair, often associated with sports culture.

- The hockey player was famous for the long lettuce sticking out of his helmet.
- The term 'lettuce' has gained popularity in North American sports subcultures to describe the impressive hair growth of athletes during the playoffs.

Teaching tip: Commonly used in 'bro' culture and sports contexts like hockey or lacrosse.

## Examples

- I added lettuce to my salad.
- She washed the lettuce thoroughly before adding it to the sandwich.
- The crisp, watery texture of iceberg lettuce provides a refreshing contrast to the rich, savory flavors of the burger.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.