French–English dictionary

knock-out

The act of making one unconscious, or at least unable to come back on one's feet within a certain period of time; a TKO.

knout

A leather scourge (multi-tail whip), in the severe version known as 'great knout' with metal weights on each tongue, notoriously used in imperial Russia.

Knoxville

The name of a number of places in the United States of America:

KO

The act of making one unconscious, or at least unable to come back on one's feet within a certain period of time; a TKO.

Koala

(countable) A surname.

Kochi

The capital city of Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.

Koguryo

(historical) An ancient kingdom in modern Korea, one of the Three Kingdoms, existing from 37 BCE to 668 CE; at its maximum covering all of North Korea, the northern part of South Korea, parts of Manchuria in northeast China, and parts of Primorsky Krai in Russia.

koï

Ornamental domesticated varieties of the Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus), of Japan and eastern Asia with red-gold or white coloring.

Kolkata

Former name of Kolkata: the capital and largest city of West Bengal, India.

kompromat

Previously unknown facts or rumors about a person.

Komsomol

(historical) Young Communist League, the former youth wing of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

koto

(musical instrument) A Japanese stringed instrument having numerous strings, usually seven or thirteen, that are stretched over a convex wooden sounding board and are plucked with three plectra, worn on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of one hand.

Kouang-toung

Guangzhou, the capital and largest city of Guangdong, China.

koudou

A large, striped, African antelope of the species Tragelaphus imberbis (lesser kudu) or Tragelaphus strepsiceros (greater kudu).

Koursk

A city in Kursk Oblast, the administrative centre of Kursky Raion and Kursk Oblast, Central Federal District, Russia, first mentioned in 1032, scene in 1943 of the largest battle in human history.

kowtow

The act of kowtowing.

kraal

In Central and Southern Africa, a small rural community.

krach

(finance) A sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures).

kraken

(Norse mythology) A colossal sea monster that attacks ships and sailors, often portrayed as a giant octopus or squid.

Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin; a fortified complex in Moscow, Russia that serves as the official residence of the President of the Russian Federation.

Kroutchev

English transliteration of the Russian surname Хрущёв; usually refers to the Russian revolutionary and Soviet Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU(b) Nikita Khrushchev.

krypton

(uncountable) The chemical element (symbol Kr) with an atomic number of 36. It is a colourless, odourless noble gas that only reacts with fluorine. It is one of the rarest gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

kryptonite

(figuratively) The one weakness of something or someone that is otherwise invulnerable.

ksi

The 14th letter of Classical and Modern Greek. The 15th in Ancient and Old Greek.

ku

The name of the Latin-script letter Q/q.

Kumiko

A en given name.

Kurde

A member of the linguistically and culturally distinct people who speak Kurdish and mainly inhabit those parts of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria sometimes known as Kurdistan.

Kurdistan

A cultural region in West Asia inhabited mostly by the Kurds, encompassing parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

kuru

A chronic, progressive, fatal central nervous system disease found mainly among the Fore and neighboring peoples of New Guinea, caused by a prion that probably resembles the scrapie agent of sheep, transmissible to nonhuman primates, and believed to be transmitted by ritual cannibalism.

kylix

An Ancient Greek drinking cup with a stem, two handles, and a broad, shallow body.

Kynthos

A mountain of Delos, famous in Greek mythology as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis

Kyoto

A prefecture of Japan.

kyrielle

A large collection.

kyste

A pouch or sac without opening, usually membranous and containing morbid matter, which develops in one of the natural cavities or in the substance of an organ.

kystique

Of or pertaining to a cyst.

Kyūshū

The third-largest of Japan's islands and the southwesternmost of its four main islands.

l'

The definite grammatical article that shows that the noun phrase that immediately follows it is definitely identifiable...

l'arcane sans nom

The cessation of life and all associated processes; the end of an organism's existence as an entity independent from its environment and its return to an inert, nonliving state.

l'emporter

(intransitive) To be superior in strength, dominance, influence, or frequency; to have or gain the advantage over others; to have the upper hand; to outnumber others.

l'épreuve de

Suffix added to a noun to form an adjective denoting imperviousness to that noun.

L'île de Sjælland

The largest island of Denmark.

l'un

(impersonal pronoun, indefinite) One thing (among a group of others); one member of a group.

l'un dans l'autre

(modal, set phrase) Generally, all things considered

l'un l'autre

(reciprocal pronoun) To one another; one to the other; signifies that a verb applies to two or more entities both as subjects and as direct objects:

l'un ou l'autre

Each of two; both. [from 9th c.]

l'une

(impersonal pronoun, indefinite) One thing (among a group of others); one member of a group.

l’Afrique

The continent that is south of Europe, east of the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Indian Ocean and north of Antarctica.

la

The form of she used after a preposition, as the object of a verb, or (colloquial) as a subject with a conjunction; that woman, that ship, etc, or (dialect) as a subject without a conjunction.

La Havane

The capital city of Cuba.

la leur

That or those belonging to them; the possessive case of they, used without a following noun.

la maison dieu

The sixteenth trump or Major Arcana card in many Tarot decks, usually deemed an ill omen.

la majeure partie de

the majority of; more than half of (construed without the definite article)

La Mecque

A large city, the provincial capital of Mecca Province in the in the Hejaz region, Saudi Arabia, the holiest place in Islam, location of the sacred Ka'ba, and to which Muslims are required to make a hajj at least once in their lifetime, if possible.

la nôtre

(colloquial, may seem patronising) That or those belonging to an individual being addressed; used especially to a person in the speaker's care, or to whom advice or instruction is being given.

là où

In, at or to any place (that); anywhere.

la plupart de

the majority of; more than half of (construed without the definite article)

la plus

Forms the superlative of many adjectives.

La Réunion

An island, overseas department, and administrative region of France, located in the Indian Ocean to the west of Mauritius and to the east of Madagascar.

la sienne

That or those belonging to her; the possessive case of she, used without a following noun. [from 12th c.]

la Sonore

A state of Mexico.

la tête la première

With the head first or down.

la tienne

(archaic, EME) Second-person singular possessive pronoun; yours.

la vôtre

That or those belonging to you; the possessive second-person singular pronoun used without a following noun.

là-bas

In that place; there (at some distance).

là-dedans

Within or towards the interior of something; within the scope or limits of something (a place), especially a building.

là-dessus

Following that; forthwith; in sequence, but not necessarily in consequence.

Labbé

A number of places in the United States:

labeur

Something requiring much effort to accomplish, either physical, mental or emotional; labor; toil. (This entry is a translation hub.)

labialisation

(phonology) A secondary articulatory feature of usually consonants that involves the contraction or rounding of the lips (labia) during pronunciation.

laborieux

Requiring much physical effort; toilsome.

labour

The cultivation of arable land by plowing, sowing and raising crops.

labourer

(archaic) To plough.

labyrinthe

A labyrinth; a puzzle consisting of a complicated network of paths or passages, the aim of which is to find one's way through.

labyrinthique

Physically resembling a labyrinth; with the qualities of a maze.

labyrinthite

(pathology) Inflammation of the labyrinth of the inner ear.

lac

(now, chiefly, dialectal) A small stream of running water; a channel for water; a drain.

lac (de montagne)

(US, chiefly, Montana) One of many small mountain lakes or ponds.

lac Winnipeg

A large lake in Manitoba, Canada; in full, Lake Winnipeg.

lacération

An irregular open wound caused by a blunt impact to soft tissue.

lacérer

(transitive) To tear, rip or wound.

lacet

A lace used for fastening a shoe.

lacet de soulier

A lace used for fastening a shoe.

lâche

A person who lacks courage.

lâchement

(archaic) In the manner of a coward, cowardlily.

lâcher

(idiomatic) To quit, or fail.

lâcher prise

(idiomatic) To vacillate on a long-held position.

lâcheté

Lack of courage.

Laconie

A city, the county seat of Belknap County, New Hampshire; named for the Laconia Car Company, a railroad car manufacturer.

laconique

Using as few words as possible; pithy and concise.

laconisme

(uncountable) Succinctness; conciseness.

Lacroix

A surname from French.

lacrosse

(sports) A sport played on a field between two opposing teams using sticks (crosses) and a ball, whereby one team defeats the other by scoring more goals within the allotted time.

lacrymal

Tearful, sorrowful, sad, pertaining to tears, weeping, causing tears or crying.

lacs

An adjustable loop of rope, such as the one placed around the neck in hangings, or the one at the end of a lasso.

lactation

The process of providing the milk to the young; breastfeeding.

lactique

(medicine) Of or pertaining to milk, or the secretion of milk.

lactose

(carbohydrate) The disaccharide sugar of milk and dairy products, C12H22O11, a product of glucose and galactose used as a food and in medicinal compounds.

lactosérum

The liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained in the process of making cheese.

lacune

An opening allowing passage or entrance.

ladre

(archaic) Ungenerous, stingy.

Laërte

(Greek mythology) the father of Odysseus

Laetitia

A en given name, popular in medieval England; rather rare today.

lagniappe

(chiefly, Louisiana, Mississippi, Trinidad and Tobago) An extra or unexpected gift or benefit, such as that given to customers when they purchase something.

lagon

A shallow body of water separated from deeper sea by a bar.

Lagos

The largest city and former capital of Nigeria, in Lagos State.

lagune

A shallow body of water separated from deeper sea by a bar.

Lahore

The second largest city of Pakistan and the provincial capital of Punjab; located on the Ravi river.

lai

A lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance.

laïc

Layperson, someone who is not an ordained cleric or member of the clergy.

laïcard

Pertaining to or representing the interests of the laity; non-clerical; secular.

laïcarde

Pertaining to or representing the interests of the laity; non-clerical; secular.

laïcat

People of a church who are not ordained clergy or clerics.

laîche

Any plant of the genus Carex, the true sedges; perennial herbs with triangular jointless stems, a spiked inflorescence, and long grass-like leaves which are usually rough on the margins and midrib.

laïcisme

The political belief in the separation of church and state, i.e. the position that religious belief should not influence public and governmental decisions.

laïciste

Pertaining to or representing the interests of the laity; non-clerical; secular.

laïcité

Neutrality towards all religions.

laid

Displeasing to the eye; aesthetically unpleasing.

laideur

The condition of being ugly.

lainage

(American spelling) An item of clothing made from wool.

laineux

Made of wool.

laïque

Not belonging to the clergy, but associated with them.

laisse

A strap, cord or rope with which to restrain an animal, often a dog.

laisser

To not bar or obstruct.

laisser échapper

To utter suddenly and unadvisedly; to speak quickly or without thought; to divulge inconsiderately — commonly with out.

laisser passer

(idiomatic) To permit someone to continue onward, e.g. through a security checkpoint, after verifying their identity, tickets, etc.

laisser pendre

(intransitive, informal) To loiter; to hang around; to spend time idly.

laisser sur sa faim

To fail to impress; to perform disappointingly.

laisser tomber

(transitive) To do someone out of their due; to deceive or defraud, to cheat (someone).

laisser voir

(transitive) To communicate that which could not be known or discovered without divine or supernatural instruction.

laisser-faire

(economics, politics) A policy of governmental non-interference in economic affairs.

laissez passer

(to a crowd) Make way! Clear a path!

laissez-faire

Tending not to interfere with the decisions and actions of other people (employees, subjects, etc.).

laissez-passer

A document granting permission to pass or to go and come; a passport; a ticket permitting free transit or admission

lait battu

The liquid left over after producing butter from full cream milk by the churning process, also called traditional buttermilk.

lait caillé

The part of milk that coagulates when it sours or is treated with enzymes; used to make cottage cheese, dahi, etc.

lait de chaux

(uncountable) A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white.

lait de poule

A beverage based on milk, eggs, sugar, and nutmeg; often made alcoholic with rum, brandy, or whisky; popular at Christmas.

lait maternisé

(countable, uncountable) Ellipsis of infant formula, drink given to babies to substitute for mother's milk.

laitages

(uncountable) (also dairy products or dairy produce) Products produced from milk.

laitance

The semen of a male fish.

laite

The semen of a male fish.

laiterie

A place, often on a farm, where milk is processed and turned into products such as butter and cheese.

laiteux

Having a slightly bluish white color, that of milk.

laitier

(specifically) Referring to products produced from animal milk as opposed to non-milk substitutes.

laitière

(historical) A girl or young woman who milks the cows on a farm.

laiton

(countable, uncountable) A metallic alloy of copper and zinc used in many industrial and plumbing applications.

laitue

An edible plant, Lactuca sativa and its close relatives, having a head of green or purple leaves.

laïus

Talk, especially meaningless or unimportant talk.

laïusser

To speak formally; to give a speech.

lakh

One hundred thousand (10⁵): 100,000, that is, with Indian digit grouping, 1,00,000.