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Glite Dictionary
PLU

PLU

1 6.7
A small code used at checkout to identify fruit and vegetables
  • noun
  • /piː ɛl juː/
  • Jargon
: código PLU
  • Compare scanning a candy bar to scanning a large bag of dog food to scanning some produce where the cashier has to look up the PLU code and then weigh it.

Examples

  • You can easily find the PLU code stickers on each item in the produce section.

  • - ...over 300 million dollars... - Meyer Lansky... - Ça vous a plu ?

    Lansky (2021)

  • I know all the PLU codes.

    Ricki and the Flash (2015)

  • Where did your plu...?

    Ironweed (1987)

  • When buying fruits and vegetables at the store, it's helpful to know the PLU codes for quick checkout.

  • The cashier entered the PLU code to identify the type of organic apple I wanted to purchase.

Synonyms

barcode
vsPLU
9 2.7

A pattern of lines printed on products that a scanner reads to identify them

is a numeric code used at checkout mainly to identify produce items
Universal Product Code
vsPLU
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A set of black bars and numbers on a product package scanned in stores

is a numeric code used at checkout mainly to identify produce items

Surface Forms

PLU singular
PLUs plural

Morphology

PLU = P + L + U

PLU is an initialism (letters stand for words) and the letters themselves do not allow a learner to derive the meaning 'numerical produce code', so the relation is opaque for typical learners.

Etymology

PLU is short for Price Look-Up. It is a small number sticker used on fruit and vegetables so the cashier can quickly 'look up' the 'price' at the register.