莱
pigweed; fallow land
Meanings
2 senses · 10 examplesnoun
pigweed; goosefoot
literaryLiterary term referring to the plant Chenopodium album, often considered a weed but sometimes eaten as a vegetable.
This plant is referred to as 'lai' in ancient texts.
The fields were overgrown with pigweed.
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When living in poverty, ancients often ate pigweed leaves to satisfy their hunger.
'Lai' and 'li' are synonyms.
He identified the plant by the roadside as wild pigweed.
noun
fallow land; uncultivated land
archaicArchaic term. Originally referred to land left to recover fertility (fallow), later extended to mean uncultivated wasteland.
There is a lot of wasteland outside the city.
The farmers are working hard on the fallow land.
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They decided to reclaim this piece of wasteland.
In ancient times, uncultivated land was called 'lai'.
Clear the wasteland to expand the area of arable land.