alfalfa

al·fal·fa

 (ăl-făl′fə)

n.

A southwest Asian perennial herb (Medicago sativa) in the pea family, having compound leaves with three leaflets and clusters of usually blue-violet flowers. It is widely cultivated as a pasture and hay crop.

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[Spanish, from Arabic al-faṣfaṣa : al-, the + faṣfaṣa, alfalfa (variant of fiṣfiṣa, ultimately (probably via Coptic p-espesta : p-, masculine sing. definite article + espesta, alfalfa) from Aramaic espestā, from Middle Persian aspast, from Old Iranian aspasti- : *aspa-, horse; see ekwo- in Indo-European roots + *-sti-, food, fodder; see ed- in Indo-European roots).]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

alfalfa

(ælˈfælfə)

n

(Plants) a leguminous plant, Medicago sativa, of Europe and Asia, having compound leaves with three leaflets and clusters of small purplish flowers. It is widely cultivated for forage and as a nitrogen fixer and used as a commercial source of chlorophyll. Also called: lucerne

[C19: from Spanish, from Arabic al-fasfasah, from al the + fasfasah the best sort of fodder]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

al•fal•fa

(ælˈfæl fə)

n., pl. -fas.

a plant, Medicago sativa, of the legume family, usu. having bluish purple flowers, originating in the Near East and widely cultivated as a forage crop. Also called lucerne.

[1835–45; < Sp, variant of alfalfez < Spanish Arabic al the + faṣfaṣah]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

alfalfa

A plant with tiny seeds which are sprouted and used in salads or casseroles.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	alfalfa - important European leguminous forage plant with trifoliate leaves and blue-violet flowers grown widely as a pasture and hay crop lucerne, Medicago sativa alfalfa - leguminous plant grown for hay or forage medic, medick, trefoil - any of several Old World herbs of the genus Medicago having small flowers and trifoliate compound leaves
	2.	alfalfa - leguminous plant grown for hay or forage fodder - coarse food (especially for livestock) composed of entire plants or the leaves and stalks of a cereal crop alfalfa, lucerne, Medicago sativa - important European leguminous forage plant with trifoliate leaves and blue-violet flowers grown widely as a pasture and hay crop

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

Luzerne

alfalfa

spagnatrifoglio

alfalfa

[ælˈfælfə] N → alfalfa f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

alfalfa

[ælˈfælfə] n (= lucerne) → luzerne f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

alfalfa

n → Luzerne f, → Alfalfa f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

alfalfa

[ælˈfælfə] n → erba medica

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

alfalfa

n (bot) alfalfa

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.