Standard Lemma guide

luau

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈlu.aʊ/
  • CMU ARPABET: L UW1 AW2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An elaborate Hawaiian feast featuring traditional foods and entertainment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an elaborate Hawaiian feast or party (especially one accompanied by traditional foods and entertainment)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fete, feast, fiesta

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Hawaiian lūʻau. Replaced earlier paina (from pāʻina) and ahaaina (from ʻahaʻaina).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: luau — elaborate Hawaiian feast
  • Hawaiian: lūʻau — elaborate Hawaiian feast
  • Portuguese: luau — elaborate Hawaiian feast
  • Spanish: luau — elaborate Hawaiian feast