1. Leaves of a cultivated plant (Lactuca sativa) often eaten in salads
   "She tossed crisp lettuce leaves with a light dressing"; "The sandwich was served on a bed of fresh lettuce"
    
2. Any of various plants of the genus Lactuca
   "He grew several varieties of lettuce in his vegetable garden"
    
3. [US, informal] The most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender
   "we tried to collect the lettuce he owed us";
   - money, coin [US, informal], boodle [informal], bread [informal], cabbage [US, informal], clams [US, informal], dinero [N. Amer, informal], dough [informal], gelt [informal], kale [US, informal], lolly [Brit, informal], lucre [informal], loot [informal], moolah [N. Amer, informal], pelf [archaic, informal], scratch [informal], shekels [informal], simoleons [US, informal], sugar [informal], wampum [N. Amer, informal], wonga [Brit, informal], moola [N. Amer, informal], brass [Brit, informal], dibs [archaic, informal], spondulix [Brit, informal], spondulicks [Brit, informal], mazuma [US, informal], dosh [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: lettuces

Type of: herb, herbaceous plant, medium of exchange, monetary system, salad green, salad greens

Part of: common lettuce, garden lettuce, genus Lactuca, Lactuca, Lactuca sativa, money supply

Encyclopedia: Lettuce, iceberg