lake

The word “lake” means a large body of water surrounded by land. In plain terms, a large area of water enclosed by land, or (informally) a big pool of any liquid.

“Lake” is pronounced layk (/leɪk/ in IPA).

Here is “lake” used in a sentence: “They rented a cabin beside a quiet mountain lake.”

Words with a similar meaning to “lake” include loch.

“Lake” is a noun.

The word “lake” comes from Latin. From Old English lacu ("stream, pool"), blended over time with the unrelated Old French lac (from Latin lacus, "lake, basin") — two separate old words that merged into one modern spelling.

“Lake” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Lake” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large body of water surrounded by land.

Both are bodies of water surrounded by land, and the line between them is not strict. Generally a lake is larger and deeper, often with areas too deep for sunlight to reach the bottom, so plants cannot grow there. A pond is smaller, shallower, and usually lit throughout.

A sea is much larger, usually salty, and connected to the ocean. A lake is generally smaller, most often freshwater, and fully enclosed by land. There are exceptions — some very large salt lakes are called seas, such as the Caspian Sea, which is technically the world's biggest lake.

Most are, but not all. While the majority of lakes hold fresh water, some are salt lakes, often because they have no outlet and water leaves only by evaporation, concentrating the minerals. Well-known examples include the Great Salt Lake and the Dead Sea, both far saltier than the ocean.

Lakes form wherever water collects in a hollow in the land. Many were carved by glaciers during past ice ages, then filled with meltwater. Others sit in valleys created by shifting tectonic plates, in volcanic craters, or behind natural dams. People also build artificial lakes, called reservoirs, for water supply.