A lawn is an area of grass that's kept short and neat, usually around a house, park, or building. When you look at most homes, that stretch of green grass in the front or back yard is the lawn. People mow their lawns regularly to keep the grass from growing too tall and wild.

Lawns became popular a few hundred years ago when wealthy landowners in England wanted to show they had so much space they didn't need to use every bit of it for growing food. Today, lawns are common around homes, schools, and public spaces. They provide soft ground for playing catch, having picnics, or just lying back to watch clouds drift by.

Taking care of a lawn means more than just mowing. People water their lawns during dry spells, pull weeds that try to move in, and sometimes add fertilizer to help the grass grow thick and healthy. A well-kept lawn feels satisfying to walk across barefoot on a summer day.

The word can also describe the fabric called lawn, a thin, lightweight cotton or linen material, though this meaning is less common today.