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English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

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la
noun
In solfège, the syllable used for the sixth note of a major scale.
lab
noun
A laboratory — a room or building equipped for scientific experiments, testing, or research.
label
noun
A small tag, sticker, or printed note attached to something, giving information about it.
labeled
adj
Marked with a label or tag identifying what it is.
labeling
noun
The labels attached to products or objects, or the process of putting them on.
labelled
adj
British and Canadian spelling of "labeled" — marked with an identifying tag.
labia
noun
The folds of skin on either side of the vaginal opening, part of the external female genitalia.
Labor
name
A surname of French origin, a variant of Labarre.
laboratory
noun
A room or building equipped for scientific research, testing, or experiments.
laborer
noun
Someone who does physical work, especially unskilled manual work, often paid by the hour.
laboring
noun
The act of working hard, especially physical toil.
laborious
adj
Requiring a great deal of physical effort; tiring and hard work.
labour
noun
Hard physical or mental effort put into a task; work.
laboured
adj
Showing clear signs of strain or heavy effort.
labourer
noun
British spelling of "laborer" — someone who does physical, often unskilled, work.
Labrador
noun
A large, friendly breed of dog, originally bred as a retriever, popular as both a working and family dog.
labyrinth
noun
A complicated network of winding paths or passages that is hard to find your way through; a maze.
lac
noun
A resin-like substance secreted by certain scale insects, used to make lacquer and shellac.
lace
noun
A delicate, decorative fabric made of patterned holes and thread.
laced
adj
Fastened using laces.
lacerated
adj
Cut or torn, describing a wound, or figuratively describing something badly damaged.
laceration
noun
A deep, jagged cut or tear in the skin or flesh.
Lacey
name
A unisex given name and surname, originally a Norman habitational name from Lassy in Normandy, also the name of towns in New Jersey and Washington.
Lachie
name
A diminutive of the male given name Lachlan, common in Scotland and Australia.
Lachlan
name
A male given name of Scottish Gaelic origin, popular in Scotland and Australia, also a river in New South Wales.
Laci
name
A unisex given name and surname, a variant spelling of Lacey.
lack
noun
The absence or shortage of something needed or wanted.
lackey
noun
A servant, especially one in uniform, or by extension someone who follows orders without question.
lacking
adj
Missing, or not having enough of something needed.
Lacks
name
A surname.
lacquer
noun
A glossy protective coating applied to wood, metal, or nails to give a hard, shiny finish.
Lacroix
name
A surname of French origin, meaning "the cross."
lacrosse
noun
A team sport where players use netted sticks to carry, pass, and shoot a ball into the opposing goal.
lactose
noun
The natural sugar found in milk and dairy products.
lacy
adj
Made of lace, or resembling the delicate, patterned look of lace.
lad
noun
A boy or young man, especially used informally or affectionately.
Lada
name
A female given name of Czech origin, also the brand name of cars made by the Russian manufacturer AvtoVAZ.
ladder
noun
A frame with rungs used for climbing up or down.
ladders
noun
Plural of ladder — more than one climbing frame with rungs.
laddie
noun
A young boy, used affectionately or informally, especially in Scottish English.
laden
adj
Weighed down or heavily loaded with something.
ladies
noun
Plural of "lady," or informally, a women's restroom.
ladle
noun
A long-handled, deep-bowled spoon used for serving liquids like soup.
lady
noun
A polite or formal word for a woman, especially one with refined manners.
ladybird
noun
A small, round beetle, usually red or orange with black spots, that eats garden pests like aphids.
ladybug
noun
American English name for the small, round, spotted beetle known in Britain as a ladybird.
ladylike
adj
Behaving or appearing in a refined, polite, feminine way traditionally expected of a well-mannered woman.
ladyship
noun
A respectful title used to address or refer to a noblewoman, without stating her specific title.
Laertes
name
In Greek mythology, the father of Odysseus; also the name of a character in Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Laetitia
name
A female given name from Latin, meaning "happiness," a variant spelling of Letitia.
Lafayette
noun
A silvery coastal fish (also called the spot or goody) common along the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.
Lafferty
name
A surname of Irish origin.
Lafite
noun
A prestigious red Bordeaux wine produced at the Château Lafite Rothschild estate in France.
Lafitte
name
A surname of French origin, also an unincorporated community in Louisiana.
Lafleur
name
A surname of French origin, meaning "the flower."
lag
verb
To fall behind or fail to keep pace with something else.
lager
noun
A pale, crisp style of beer brewed at cool temperatures using a slow-acting yeast.
lagging
adj
Falling behind; failing to keep up with the expected pace.
Lago
name
A surname.
lagoon
noun
A shallow stretch of water separated from the open sea by a sandbar, reef, or narrow strip of land.
Lagos
name
The largest city in Nigeria and its former capital, also a city in southern Portugal.
Laguardia
name
A surname of Italian or Spanish origin, meaning "the guard."
Laguna
noun
A member of the Laguna Pueblo, a federally recognized Native American tribe in New Mexico.
lah
particle
A sentence-ending word used in Singapore/Malaysia English and similar varieties to add emphasis, reassurance, or a casual, friendly tone.
Lahey
name
A surname of Irish origin, a variant spelling of Leahy.
Lahore
name
The second-largest city in Pakistan, capital of Punjab province, known for its Mughal-era architecture.
lai
noun
A short medieval narrative poem, often about love or adventure, popular in French and English literature.
laid
verb
Past tense and past participle of "lay" — to have placed something down.
Laila
name
A female given name of Arabic origin, a variant spelling of Leila, traditionally meaning "night".
lain
verb
Past participle of "lie" — to have rested in a horizontal position.
laine
noun
An area of open, cultivated farmland at the base of a hill, especially in parts of southern England.
Lainey
name
A pet form of the female given name Elaine.
lair
noun
The den or hidden resting place of a wild animal.
laird
noun
A person, especially in Scotland, who owns a large estate of land.
lait
verb
To search for or seek something (archaic or dialectal).
lake
noun
A large body of water surrounded by land.
laker
noun
A cargo ship built to operate on the Great Lakes of North America.
Lakes
name
Short for "the Lake District", a scenic mountainous region in northwest England famous for its lakes and hiking trails.
lakeshore
noun
The land bordering a lake.
lakeside
noun
The area of land next to a lake.
Lakewood
name
A common American place name shared by cities and towns in several states, including Ohio, California, and Colorado.
lakh
num
In South Asian English, the number one hundred thousand (100,000).
Lakota
noun
A member of one of the Native American Sioux nations, historically based in the Northern Plains of the United States.
Lakshmi
name
The Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, consort of Vishnu; also a female given name used in India.
Lal
name
A surname common in South Asia.
Lala
name
A language spoken in Papua New Guinea.
Lally
noun
A leg (informal/dialect usage).
lalo
noun
A powder made from dried baobab leaves, used in West African cooking to thicken soups and stews.
lam
verb
To hit or beat someone hard.
lama
noun
A senior teacher or spiritual master in Tibetan Buddhism.
Lamar
name
A male given name and surname, also the name of several towns across the United States, from an Old French place name meaning "the pool."
Lamarr
name
A surname.
Lamaze
noun
A method of preparing for childbirth that teaches breathing and relaxation techniques to manage labour without heavy reliance on medication.
lamb
noun
A young sheep.
Lambda
name
A female given name, also the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet used as a symbol in science and mathematics.
Lambert
noun
A unit of brightness (luminance) in the old CGS measurement system, equal to one lumen per square centimeter.
Lamborghini
noun
A high-performance sports car made by the Italian manufacturer Lamborghini.
lame
adj
Unable to walk normally because of an injury or problem with the legs or feet.
lament
verb
To express deep sorrow or regret over something.
lamentable
adj
So poor or regrettable as to cause sorrow or disappointment; deplorable.
lamented
adj
Mourned or grieved for, especially after death.
lamenting
noun
The act of expressing grief or regret.
Lamia
noun
In folklore, a monstrous female figure, part woman and part serpent, said to prey on children.
laminate
verb
To build up a material from thin layers bonded together, or to coat something in a thin protective layer of plastic.
laminated
adj
Made by bonding thin layers together, or coated in a protective plastic film.
Lamont
name
A surname, also the name of several small towns across the United States and Canada.
lamp
noun
A device that produces light, whether electric, oil-burning, or otherwise.
lamppost
noun
A tall post that holds a light to illuminate a street or path.
lampshade
noun
A cover placed over a light bulb to soften or direct the light and prevent glare.
Lan
name
A surname of Chinese origin, also a county in Shanxi, China.
lana
noun
A tropical tree (Genipa americana) that produces a large edible fruit used to make juice and dye.
Lancashire
noun
A crumbly white cheese traditionally made in Lancashire, England.
Lancaster
name
A city in Lancashire, England, and the name of a historic English royal house; also many towns across the United States, Canada, and Australia.
lance
noun
A long spear, traditionally carried by a mounted soldier or knight.
Lancelot
name
A masculine given name, famous as the name of the legendary Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend.
lancer
noun
A soldier, historically on horseback, armed with a lance.
lancers
noun
A 19th-century social dance for several couples, based on the quadrille.
Lancia
noun
A car made by the Italian manufacturer Lancia.
land
noun
The solid, dry part of the Earth's surface, as opposed to sea or sky.
landau
noun
A four-wheeled carriage with a folding top, in which the front and rear seats face each other.
landed
adj
Owning land, especially a large amount of it, as a source of wealth or status.
lander
noun
A spacecraft designed to touch down on the surface of a planet, moon, or other body.
Landers
name
An English surname, originally denoting someone who owned or worked land.
landfall
noun
The first sighting or arrival at land after a journey by sea or air.
landfill
noun
A site where waste is buried in the ground under layers of soil.
landing
noun
The act of coming down onto a surface, especially of an aircraft.
Landis
name
A surname of German origin, a variant of "Landis" meaning "from the land."
landlady
noun
A woman who owns and rents out property, or who runs a pub or lodging house.
landline
noun
A telephone connection that runs through a fixed physical cable, as opposed to a mobile signal.
landlord
noun
A person or company that owns property and rents it out to tenants.
landmark
noun
A building, monument, or natural feature that is easily recognized and often used for navigation or as a symbol of a place.
landmine
noun
An explosive device buried just below the ground surface, designed to detonate when stepped on or driven over.
Lando
name
A masculine given name, a short form of Orlando or Rolando.
Landon
name
A masculine given name of English origin, meaning "long hill."
landowner
noun
A person or organization that owns land.
Landru
name
A French surname, notably borne by Henri Landru, an infamous early 20th-century serial killer.
Landry
name
A surname and given name of French origin, derived from an old Germanic name meaning "ruler of the land."
landscape
noun
A stretch of land and everything visible in it, especially its scenery.
landscaping
noun
The design and arrangement of plants, paths, and features to make outdoor land more attractive.
landslide
noun
A sudden collapse and downhill movement of a mass of soil, rock, and debris.
lane
noun
A narrow road, path, or passageway, often bordered by hedges, walls, or buildings.
Laney
name
A feminine given name, often used as a short form of Elaine or Delaney.
lang
adj
Long (a Scots and Northern English dialect word).
Langdon
name
An English surname and given name meaning "long hill," originally referring to a place.
Lange
name
A German and Scandinavian surname meaning "tall" or "long."
langer
noun
(Irish slang, informal) A foolish, annoying, or contemptible person, usually a man.
Langford
name
An English surname and place name meaning "long ford," a crossing over a river.
Langham
name
An English surname and place name meaning "long homestead."
Langley
noun
A unit of solar energy received per unit area, used in older meteorology and physics, equal to one calorie per square centimeter.
Langston
name
An English surname and given name meaning "long stone" or "long town," notably borne by poet Langston Hughes.
Langton
name
An English surname and place name meaning "long settlement."
language
noun
A system of words and grammar used by a community to communicate.
languish
verb
To gradually lose strength, vitality, or spirit, especially over a long period of neglect or hardship.
Lani
noun
A member of an indigenous highland people of Central Papua, Indonesia.
Lanka
name
A short form used to refer to Sri Lanka, an island nation off the southern coast of India.
lanky
adj
Tall and thin, often in an awkward or ungainly way.
Lanny
name
A masculine given name, a diminutive form of Roland or Orlando.
Lansing
name
A city in the U.S. state of Michigan, serving as the state capital.
lantern
noun
A portable case with a light inside, made of glass or another see-through material to protect the flame or bulb.
lanyard
noun
A cord worn around the neck or wrist to hold a small item such as an ID badge, key, or whistle.
Lao
noun
A member of the Tai ethnic group native to Laos and parts of Thailand.
Laos
noun
A landlocked country in Southeast Asia, whose capital is Vientiane.
lap
noun
The flat area formed by the thighs of a seated person.
LAPD
noun
A telecommunications signalling protocol (Link Access Procedures, D channel) used on the control channel of an ISDN connection.
lapel
noun
One of the two folded-back flaps of cloth on the front of a jacket or coat, running down from the collar.
Lapland
proper noun
A region spanning the far north of Scandinavia and Finland, plus part of Russia's Kola Peninsula, traditionally home to the Sami people and closely associated with reindeer and Arctic winters.
Lapointe
name
A French surname meaning "the point," often referring to a geographic landmark.
lapped
adjective
In a race, having fallen so far behind the leader that they have completed one fewer full circuit of the track or course.
lapping
noun
The soft, repeated sound of water gently striking a surface, such as waves against a shore or boat.
lapse
noun
A brief slip or failure, especially a temporary lowering of standards or attention.
lapsed
adj
No longer active or valid; having expired through neglect or non-renewal.
laptop
noun
A portable personal computer, small and light enough to use on your lap.
lar
noun
A title used in ancient Etruscan society, properly reserved for an eldest son, though sometimes mistaken by later readers for part of a personal name.
Lara
name
A feminine given name, possibly derived from Latin or a Slavic short form of Larissa.
Larabee
name
An English surname, a variant spelling of Larrabee.
Laramie
name
A city in the U.S. state of Wyoming, named after French-Canadian trapper Jacques La Ramie.
larceny
noun
The crime of unlawfully taking someone else's property with the intent to keep it permanently.
lard
noun
Soft white fat from a pig, rendered down and used in cooking or baking.
larder
noun
A cool room or cupboard in a house used for storing food.
Laredo
name
A city in Texas on the border with Mexico, named after Laredo, Spain.
large
adj
Big in size, amount, or extent.
largely
adv
Mostly or mainly.
largo
noun
A very slow musical tempo, or a piece played at that tempo.
Larissa
name
A feminine given name of Greek origin, also the name of an ancient Greek city.
lark
noun
A small songbird known for its cheerful singing, often heard early in the morning.
Larkin
name
An Irish surname derived from a nickname meaning "rough" or "fierce."
Laroche
name
A French surname meaning "the rock."
Larrabee
name
An English surname of uncertain origin, found mainly in New England families.
Larry
noun
(informal, chiefly Australian/British) A loud commotion, uproar, or fuss.
Lars
name
A masculine given name common in Scandinavia, a form of Laurence meaning "from Laurentum."
Larsen
name
A Scandinavian surname meaning "son of Lars."
Larson
name
A surname of Scandinavian origin meaning "son of Lars."
Larsson
name
A Swedish surname meaning "son of Lars," notably borne by author Stieg Larsson.
Larue
name
A French surname and given name meaning "the street."
larva
noun
The early, immature form of an insect or amphibian after hatching, before it changes into its adult shape.
laryngitis
noun
Inflammation of the larynx (voice box), usually causing hoarseness or loss of voice.
larynx
noun
The part of the throat containing the vocal cords, involved in producing sound and protecting the airway.
lasagna
noun
Broad, flat sheets of pasta, or the baked Italian dish made by layering them with sauce, cheese, and other fillings.
Lasalle
name
A French surname meaning "the hall" or "the room," also a street name in several American cities.
lascivious
adj
Showing an excessive or improper interest in sex; lewd.
laser
noun
A device that produces a narrow, highly focused beam of light through amplified light emission.
lash
noun
A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.
lashed
adjective
Informal British slang for very drunk.
lashing
noun
A cord, rope, or strap used to tie or bind something down.
Lasky
name
A surname of Eastern European Jewish origin, an Americanized form of a Polish place name.
lass
noun
(chiefly Scottish and Northern English) A girl or young woman.
Lassen
name
A surname of Danish origin, and the name of a volcanic peak in California, Lassen Peak.
lassie
noun
An affectionate term for a young girl, especially a girlfriend or sweetheart.
Lassiter
name
An American surname, likely an altered form of the English surname Lassater.
lasso
noun
A long rope with a sliding loop, used especially by cowboys to catch cattle and horses.
last
adj
Coming after all others; final.
lasting
adj
Continuing for a long time; enduring.
lastly
adv
Used to introduce the final point in a list.
Laszlo
name
A masculine given name common in Hungary, a form of Ladislaus meaning "glorious rule."
lat
noun
The former monetary unit of Latvia, used until it was replaced by the euro in 2014.
Lata
name
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "creeper vine," common in South Asia.
latch
noun
A simple fastening for a door or gate, worked by a bar or lever.
late
adj
Arriving or happening after the expected or usual time.
lately
adv
Recently; in the period up to now.
lateness
noun
The state or fact of being late.
latent
adj
Present but not yet visible, active, or developed.
later
adv
At a subsequent or future time.
lateral
adj
Relating to, or situated at, the side of something.
laters
intj
(slang) An informal way of saying goodbye.
latest
noun
The most recent news, information, or version of something.
latex
noun
The milky fluid produced by certain plants, especially rubber trees, that hardens on contact with air and is used to make rubber.
Latham
name
An English surname and place name derived from Old Norse, meaning "at the barns."
lathe
noun
A machine that shapes a piece of wood, metal, or other material by spinning it against a cutting tool.
lather
noun
The foam created by mixing soap or shampoo with water.
Lathrop
name
An English surname derived from a place name meaning "barn village."
Latif
name
A masculine given name of Arabic origin, meaning "gentle" or "kind."
latimer
noun
(archaic) An interpreter, especially one who translated into or from Latin.
Latin
name
The classical language of ancient Rome, ancestor of French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian.
Latina
noun
A woman of Latin American descent.
Latino
noun
A person, especially a man, of Latin American descent.
latitude
noun
The angular distance of a place north or south of the equator.
Latour
name
A French surname meaning "the tower," also associated with a famous Bordeaux wine estate.
latrine
noun
A simple toilet, especially a pit or trench, used in military camps or other basic facilities.
lats
noun
(informal) Short for the latissimus dorsi muscles of the back.
latte
noun
A coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk, usually topped with a little foam.
latter
adj
Being the second of two things just mentioned.
lattice
noun
A framework of crossed strips of wood or metal, often used as a garden trellis or decorative pattern.
Lattimer
name
An English surname, an occupational name for someone who worked with latten, a type of metal.
Latvia
name
A country on the Baltic Sea in northeastern Europe, officially the Republic of Latvia.
Latvian
adj
Relating to Latvia, its people, or its language.
lau
verb
(dialectal) To lay or set something down onto a surface.
laudanum
noun
A tincture of opium once widely used as a painkiller, sedative, and recreational drug.
Laude
name
A surname of Latin-derived origin, related to the word "laud," meaning praise.
lauder
noun
A person who praises or lauds someone highly.
Lauderdale
name
A Scottish surname and place name, also known through the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
laugh
verb
To make the sound and facial movements that show amusement or delight.
laughable
adj
So absurd or badly done that it deserves mockery rather than serious attention.
laughing
adj
Making the sound or expression of laughter.
Laughlin
name
An Irish surname, an anglicized form of a Gaelic name meaning "descendant of Lochlainn."
laughter
noun
The sound or act of laughing.
launch
verb
To send something (a rocket, ship, or projectile) into motion, often forcefully.
launcher
noun
A device or piece of equipment used to launch something, such as a rocket or missile.
launching
noun
The act of launching something.
launder
verb
To wash and often iron clothes or fabric.
laundering
noun
The act of washing and ironing clothes, or the illegal act of disguising the origin of money.
laundromat
noun
A self-service shop with coin- or card-operated washing machines and dryers.
laundry
noun
Clothes and linens that need washing, are being washed, or have just been washed.
Laura
name
A female given name derived from Latin, related to the word for "laurel."
laureate
noun
A person honored for outstanding achievement in a field, especially a Nobel Prize winner.
laurel
noun
An evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves, or a wreath made from its branches.
laurels
noun
Honors or recognition earned for achievement.
Lauren
name
A unisex given name derived from Latin, related to Laurence and Lawrence.
Laurence
name
A male given name derived from Latin, the counterpart of the female name Lauren.
Laurens
name
A masculine given name and surname, a Dutch and French form of Laurence.
Laurent
name
A French masculine given name, derived from Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum" or "laurel-crowned."
Lauri
name
A masculine given name common in Finland, a form of Laurence.
Laurie
name
A given name used for both men and women, a diminutive form of Laurence or Laura.
Lauryn
name
A feminine given name, a modern spelling variant of Lauren.
Lausanne
name
A city in Switzerland on Lake Geneva, known as the seat of the International Olympic Committee.
lava
noun
Molten rock that has erupted from a volcano onto the earth's surface, or the solid rock formed once it cools.
lavage
noun
A medical washing or rinsing, especially of an internal organ or cavity.
lavatory
noun
A room containing a toilet, or the toilet itself.
lavender
noun
A fragrant purple-flowered plant of the mint family, or the pale purple color associated with it.
Laverne
name
A feminine given name of French origin, related to the word for "spring" or "alder tree," and a masculine name in some traditions.
Lavery
name
An Irish surname, an anglicized form of a Gaelic name meaning "descendant of the mariner."
Lavinia
name
A feminine given name of Latin origin, borne in Roman legend by the wife of Aeneas.
lavish
adj
Given, spent, or produced in great and often extravagant abundance.
law
noun
The system of rules that a country or community uses to govern behavior and enforce order.
lawful
adj
Allowed or recognised by the law.
lawfully
adverb
In a way that follows the law.
lawless
adj
Having no laws or effective government controlling it.
lawlessness
noun
A state where laws are absent or not enforced; disorder.
lawman
noun
A law-enforcement officer, especially in a Western or frontier setting.
lawn
noun
An area of ground, usually next to a house, covered with closely cut grass.
Lawndale
name
A place name used for several towns and neighborhoods in the United States, describing a grassy valley.
lawnmower
noun
A machine used to cut grass to an even height.
Laws
name
An English surname, a variant of Law, often a short form of Lawrence.
Lawson
noun
A reddish-orange dye compound found naturally in henna leaves, used in hair and skin coloring.
lawsuit
noun
A civil case brought before a court to settle a dispute between parties.
Lawton
name
An English surname and place name meaning "hill settlement," also a city in Oklahoma.
lawyer
noun
A person qualified to advise on or represent others in legal matters.
lawyering
noun
The practice or profession of working as a lawyer.
lax
adj
Not strict or careful; loose in standards or discipline.
laxative
noun
A substance, food, or medicine that stimulates bowel movement.
lay
verb
To put something down, especially in a flat or resting position.