French–English dictionary

letton

Of, from, or pertaining to Latvia, the Latvian people or the Latvian language.

Lettone

(countable) A person from Latvia or of Latvian descent.

Lettonie

A country in northeastern Europe. Official name: Republic of Latvia.

lettrage

Written text, especially when printed.

lettre

A symbol in an alphabet.

lettre d'information

A periodically sent publication containing current events or the like, generally on a particular topic or geared toward a limited audience.

lettrine

(typography) A large initial letter that drops below the first line of a paragraph, usually used at the beginning of a section or chapter of a book.

leucémie

(oncology, pathology) Any of a class of types of cancer affecting the blood cells, especially the white blood cells (usually with massive leukocytosis), and the blood cell–forming (hematopoietic) tissues.

leucose

(oncology, pathology) Any of a class of types of cancer affecting the blood cells, especially the white blood cells (usually with massive leukocytosis), and the blood cell–forming (hematopoietic) tissues.

leur

Belonging to, from, of, or relating to, them (plural).

leurre

Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something

leurrer

(transitive) To trick or mislead.

leurs

Belonging to, from, of, or relating to, them (plural).

lev

The currency of Bulgaria, divided into 100 stotinki.

levain

(figurative) Something that encourages progress or change.

Levant

A cultural region of West Asia, consisting of the countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, namely Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Cyprus (and sometimes, especially in a historical context, also including Turkey and Egypt, then part of the Ottoman Empire).

levé

Awake and out of bed.

lève-tard

Someone who gets up late in the morning.

lève-tôt

(idiomatic) A person who wakes early or arrives early, typically before most others.

levée

An act of lifting or raising.

levée de boucliers

(figuratively) A strong protest.

lever

(transitive) To acquire or pull in, as funding.

lever de lune

The time of day or night when the moon begins to rise over the horizon.

lever du soleil

(countable) The rising of the sun.

lever le coude

(transitive) To drink an alcoholic beverage swiftly or often; to finish a beverage.

lever les filets

(transitive) To slice, bone or make into fillets.

Lévesque

(countable) An English surname originating as an occupation.

Lévi

(biblical character) The third son of Jacob, by his wife Leah.

léviathan

(Bible, mythological creature) A vast sea monster of tremendous strength, either imaginary or real, described as the most dangerous and powerful creature in the ocean.

léviathanique

Very large; enormous, gargantuan.

levier

The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved.

léviter

(intransitive) To be suspended in the air, as if in defiance of gravity.

Lévitique

The third of the Books of Moses in the Old Testament of the Bible; the third book in the Torah.

lèvres

folds of tissue at opening of vulva

lèvres de la vulve

folds of tissue at opening of vulva

levrette

(slang) The position assumed for doggy style intercourse.

lévrier

A lean breed of dog used in hunting and racing.

lexème

(linguistics) A lexical item corresponding to the set of all words (or of all multi-word expressions) that are semantically related through inflection of a particular shared basic form.

lexicologie

(uncountable, linguistics) The part of linguistics that studies words, their nature and meaning, words' elements, relations between words including semantic relations, words groups and the whole lexicon.

lexique

A dictionary of a specific dialect, or of the words and phrases peculiar to one part of a country.

lézard

(chiefly, in attributive use) Lizard skin, the skin of these reptiles.

lézarde

(typography) A visually undesirable effect of white space running down a page, caused by spaces between words on consecutive lines happening to coincide.

LGBT

Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, or relating to these groups as a collective.

Lhassa

The capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

li

The Chinese mile, a traditional unit of distance equal to 1500 chis or 150 zhangs, now standardized as a half-kilometer (500 meters).

liaison

A person with whom someone has an adulterous relationship.

liaison d'expression

(music) The symbol indicating a legato passage, written as an arc over the slurred notes (not to be confused with a tie).

liaison de prolongation

(music) A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch denoting that they should be played as a single note with the combined length of both notes.

liaison de tenue

(music) A curved line connecting two notes of the same pitch denoting that they should be played as a single note with the combined length of both notes.

liasse

A quantity of the stalks and ears of wheat, rye, or other grain, bound together; a bundle of grain or straw.

libanais

Of, from, or pertaining to Lebanon or the Lebanese people.

Libanaise

(chiefly, in the plural) A person from Lebanon or of Lebanese descent.

libelle

A written attack or other work ridiculing a person, group, or institution; especially, a satirical one.

libeller

(transitive) To draw up (a document etc.), to designate (a cheque). [with to ‘a given recipient, payee’] [from 15th c.]

libellule

An insect of the suborder Epiprocta or, more strictly, the infraorder Anisoptera, having four long transparent wings held perpendicular to a long body when perched.

libéral

(now, rare, outside, set phrases) Pertaining to those arts and sciences the study of which is considered to provide general knowledge, as opposed to vocational/occupational, technical or mechanical training.

libération

The act of liberating or the state of being liberated.

libération sous caution

(legal, UK) Release from imprisonment on payment of such money.

libéré

Not leashed; without a leash on it.

libérer

(transitive) To make free; set at liberty; release.

Libéria

A country in West Africa. Official name: Republic of Liberia.

libertaire

(originally, US, politics) Relating to, or advocating, libertarianism; also, relating to a political party supporting libertarianism.

libertarien

(politics) Of, or pertaining to, a Libertarian Party.

liberté

(countable) The lack of a specific constraint, or of constraints in general; a state of being free, unconstrained.

liberté conditionnelle

(legal) A type of sentence where convicted criminals are permitted to continue living in a community but will automatically be sent to jail if they violate certain conditions.

liberté sous caution

(legal, UK) Release from imprisonment on payment of such money.

libertin

Indulging in or characterised by sensual pleasures to a degree perceived to be morally harmful; corrupted; immoral; self-indulgent.

libidineux

Having lustful desires; characterized by lewdness.

libraire

A person engaged in the business of selling books.

librairie

A shop that sells books.

libre

Free of obstacles.

libre-pensée

The principles of a freethinker; free thought

librement

In a free manner.

Libye

(historical) Africa; that is, the part of North Africa known in classical antiquity.

libyen

Of, from, or pertaining to Libya.

Libyenne

A person from Libya or of Libyan descent.

libyque

Of, from, or pertaining to Libya.

lice

(in the plural, historical) The barriers or palisades used to fence off a space for jousting or tilting tournaments.

licéité

(religious) The legitimacy of an act or its consequences, by opposition to the validity.

licence

The first or lowest academical degree conferred by universities and colleges; a bachelor's degree.

licencié

A person who is recognized by a university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.

licenciée

A person who is recognized by a university as having completed the requirements of a degree studied at the institution.

licenciement

(military) The act of releasing a member of the armed forces from service.

licencier

(transitive) To reject; to refuse to accept.

licencieux

Obscene or scurrilous.

licenciosité

The property of being licentious.

liche

(fantasy, RPG) A reanimated corpse or undead being; particularly an intelligent, undead spellcaster.

lichen

Any of many symbiotic organisms, being associations of algae and fungi, often found as white or yellow-to-blue–green patches on rocks, old walls, etc.

licite

(legal) Explicitly established or constituted by law.

licol

A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.

licou

A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.

lidocaïne

(organic compound, pharmaceutical drug) A crystalline compound C14H22N2O that is used in the form of its hydrochloride as a local anesthetic and as an antiarrhythmic agent.

lie

The sediment that settles during fermentation of beverages, consisting of dead yeast and precipitated parts of the fruit.

lie-de-vin

Of a grayish-pink color, like that of the damask rose.

Liechtenstein

A microstate in Central Europe. Official name: Principality of Liechtenstein. Capital: Vaduz.

liechtensteinois

Of or pertaining to the people or culture of Liechtenstein.

Liège

The largest city and provincial capital of Liège, Wallonia, Belgium

lien

(structural) One of the principal horizontal structural members, usually of steel, timber, or concrete, of a building.

lien symbolique

(computing, in the Microsoft family of operating systems) A file that points to the location of another file and serves as a quick way to access it.

lier

(transitive) To tie or fasten tightly together, with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.

lierre

Any of several woody, climbing, or trailing evergreen plants of the genus Hedera.

lieu

The place where something happens.

lieu commun

(rhetoric) Something, most often a phrase or expression, that is overused or used outside its original context, so that its original impact and meaning are lost. A trite saying; a platitude. [from 19th c.]

lieu de naissance

The location where a person was born.

lieu de travail

The place where someone works.

lieu de vacances

A place where people go for recreation, especially one with facilities such as lodgings, entertainment, and a relaxing environment.

lieue

A stone erected near a public road to mark the distance of a league.

lieutenant

A military grade that is junior to the grade the adjective modifies: lieutenant colonel, lieutenant general, lieutenant commander.

lièvre

(uncountable) The meat from this animal.

lièvre criard

Any of several small, furry mammals, similar to guinea pigs, but related to rabbits, of the genus Ochotona, from the mountains of North America and Asia.

lièvre siffleur

Any of several small, furry mammals, similar to guinea pigs, but related to rabbits, of the genus Ochotona, from the mountains of North America and Asia.

lifting

Plastic surgery to the face to remove wrinkles, fat or various signs of aging.

ligament

(anatomy) A band of strong tissue that connects bones to other bones.

ligature

(structural) One of the principal horizontal structural members, usually of steel, timber, or concrete, of a building.

ligaturer

(transitive) To bind with a flexible rope or cord.

light

Light in composition, notably low in fat, calories etc. Most commonly used commercially.

lignage

Descent in a line from a common progenitor; progeny; descending line of offspring or ascending line of parentage.

ligne

A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight.

ligne aérienne

A company that flies airplanes to transport people and goods.

ligne d'horizon

The visible horizontal line (in all directions) where the sky appears to meet the earth in the distance.

ligne de conduite

Course of conduct, thought, occupation, or policy; method of argument; department of industry, trade, or intellectual activity. [from earlier 17th c.]

ligne de courant

(physics) A line that is tangent to the velocity of flow of a fluid; equivalent to the path of a specific particle in that flow.

ligne de fond

(tennis) The line at the farthest ends of the court indicating the boundary of the area of play.

ligne de fond de court

(tennis) The line at the farthest ends of the court indicating the boundary of the area of play.

ligne de front

(military) A front, or a boundary between opposing positions.

ligne de niveau

A line on a map or chart delineating those points which have the same altitude or other plotted quantity: a contour line or isopleth; (metonymically) the landform or its surface.

ligne de partage

(British) The dividing line formed by combing the hair in different directions.

ligne de partage des eaux

(hydrology, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) The topographical boundary dividing two adjacent catchment basins, such as a ridge or a crest.

ligne directrice

A non-specific rule or principle that provides direction to action or behaviour.

ligne droite

Something that is not crooked or bent such as a part of a road or track.

ligne du temps

A graphical representation of a chronological sequence of events (past or future).

ligne fixe

A fixed telephone communications cable; originally, one run over land, as opposed to a submarine cable.

lignée

The abstract link between a person and their ancestors.

ligneur

Makeup used to outline the eye, generally applied along or close to the lashline.

ligneux

(botany) Non-herbaceous.

liker

(Internet, social media, transitive) To show support for, or approval of, something posted on the Internet by marking it with a vote.

lilas

A purple colour with a tint of pink and blue.

Liliane

A en given name.

Lilith

(mythology) A Mesopotamian storm demon, a bearer of disease and death.

Lille

The capital of Nord department and the Hauts-de-France region, France.

Lima

The capital city of Peru.

limace

Any of many gastropod mollusks, having no (or only a rudimentary) shell. [from early 18th c.]

limaçon

Any of very many animals (either hermaphroditic or nonhermaphroditic), of the class Gastropoda, having a coiled shell.

limaille

Any particle that has been removed by a file or similar implement; a shaving.

limbo

(dances, also, attributively) A competitive dance originating from Trinidad and Tobago in which dancers take turns to cross under a horizontal bar while bending backwards. The bar is lowered with each round, and the competition is won by the dancer who passes under the bar in the lowest position without dislodging it or falling down.

lime

A tool consisting of a strip or rod of hardened and coarse metal, used for removing sharp edges, shaping, and cutting, especially through metal; usually a hand tool.

limer

(transitive) To smooth, grind, or cut with a file.

limérance

(psychology) An involuntary romantic infatuation with another person, especially combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated. [from 20th c.]

limérence

(psychology) An involuntary romantic infatuation with another person, especially combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated. [from 20th c.]

limerick

A humorous, often bawdy verse of five anapaestic lines, with the rhyme scheme aabba, and typically having an 8–8–5–5–8 cadence.