alfalfa
noun
al·fal·fa al-ˈfal-fə 
: a deep-rooted leguminous perennial plant (Medicago sativa) of southwestern Asia that is widely grown for hay and forage
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The river is the only water supply for the Imperial Irrigation District, whose farmers grow broccoli, onions, carrots, and other winter vegetables, as well as alfalfa and other feedstock. 
Kathleen Ronayne, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Cortez-Lara, the study’s author, said that while cities should reduce their water use, coming up with that much water would involve significantly cutting how much alfalfa and cotton is grown in the Mexicali Valley. The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022 The 7,700-acre Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm & Ranch Enterprise has produced alfalfa and corn for four decades, irrigated by snow melt flowing from the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 11 Sep. 2022 The land belongs to Al Medvitz, who farms alfalfa and other crops on more than five square miles of land. Kathleen Ronayne, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Aug. 2022 The prices of animal feed like hay, corn and alfalfa — much of it imported from Russia and Ukraine — have doubled and tripled in recent months. New York Times, 17 May 2022 Farmers in central Arizona, among the state’s largest producers of livestock, dairy, alfalfa, wheat and barley, lost most of their Colorado River allocation last year when the government announced its first shortage. Suman Naishadham, ajc, 17 Aug. 2022 The Colorado River Indian Tribes' farm produces alfalfa, grains, onions and garlic as well as other crops. AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2022 Agriculture consumes about 80% of the water that’s diverted from the river, much of it to grow crops like alfalfa, which is used to feed cattle and exported in large quantities. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022 See More
Kathleen Ronayne, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Cortez-Lara, the study’s author, said that while cities should reduce their water use, coming up with that much water would involve significantly cutting how much alfalfa and cotton is grown in the Mexicali Valley. The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Sep. 2022 The 7,700-acre Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm & Ranch Enterprise has produced alfalfa and corn for four decades, irrigated by snow melt flowing from the surrounding San Juan Mountains. Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 11 Sep. 2022 The land belongs to Al Medvitz, who farms alfalfa and other crops on more than five square miles of land. Kathleen Ronayne, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Aug. 2022 The prices of animal feed like hay, corn and alfalfa — much of it imported from Russia and Ukraine — have doubled and tripled in recent months. New York Times, 17 May 2022 Farmers in central Arizona, among the state’s largest producers of livestock, dairy, alfalfa, wheat and barley, lost most of their Colorado River allocation last year when the government announced its first shortage. Suman Naishadham, ajc, 17 Aug. 2022 The Colorado River Indian Tribes' farm produces alfalfa, grains, onions and garlic as well as other crops. AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2022 Agriculture consumes about 80% of the water that’s diverted from the river, much of it to grow crops like alfalfa, which is used to feed cattle and exported in large quantities. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish, modification of Arabic dialect al-faṣfaṣa the alfalfa
First Known Use
1791, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing alfalfa
Kids Definition
alfalfa
noun
al·fal·fa al-ˈfal-fə
: a plant with purple flowers that is related to the clovers and is grown as a food for horses and cattle