You would like to give word a happy home but with so many words in the English Language, you feel a bit lost.
Have a look at our Collins dictionary online. Here you can see for yourself every word in our database, and whether it’s available to adopt. You’ll soon feel inspired.
l
the 12th letter and ninth consonant of the modern English alphabet
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l'chaim
a variant spelling of lechaim
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L'pool
Liverpool
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L-dopa
a substance occurring naturally in the body and used to treat Parkinson's disease. Formula: C9H11NO4
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L-driver
a learner-driver: a person who is learning to drive, has not yet passed the official driving test, and must be accompanied by a qualified driver and display L-plates on the car
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L-plate
a white rectangle with an ``L'' sign fixed to the back and front of a motor vehicle; a red ``L'' sign is used to show that a driver using it is a learner who has not passed the driving test; a green ``L'' sign may be displayed by new drivers for up to a year after passing the driving test
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L.
lake
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L.S.D.
librae, solidi, denarii
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L/C
letter of credit
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L/Cpl
lance corporal
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L/P
letterpress
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L8R
later
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la
a variant spelling of lah
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la-di-da
affecting exaggeratedly genteel manners or speech
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La.
Louisiana
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laager
(in Africa) a camp, esp one defended by a circular formation of wagons
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Laaland
a variant spelling of Lolland
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lab
short for laboratory
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lab.
laboratory
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Laban
the father-in-law of Jacob, father of Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:16)
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labarum
a standard or banner carried in Christian religious processions
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labdanum
a dark resinous juice obtained from various rockroses of the genus Cistus, used in perfumery and in the manufacture of fumigants and medicinal plasters
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Labe
the Czech name for the (River) Elbe
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labefaction
deterioration; weakening
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label
a piece of paper, card, or other material attached to an object to identify it or give instructions or details concerning its ownership, use, nature, destination, etc; tag
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labellist
a person who wears only clothes with fashionable brand names
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labellum
the part of the corolla of certain plants, esp orchids, that forms a distinct, often lobed, lip
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labia
the plural of labium
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labial
of, relating to, or near lips or labia
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labialize
to pronounce with articulation involving rounded lips, such as for (k) before a close back vowel (u:) as in English cool
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labiate
any plant of the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae), having square stems, aromatic leaves, and a two-lipped corolla: includes mint, thyme, sage, rosemary, etc
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labile
(of a compound) prone to chemical change
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labio-
relating to or formed by the lips and (another organ or part)
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labiodental
pronounced by bringing the bottom lip into contact or near contact with the upper teeth, as for the fricative (f) in English fat, puff
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labionasal
pronounced by making a complete closure of the air passage at the lips and lowering the soft palate allowing air to escape through the nasal cavity
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labiovelar
relating to or denoting a speech sound pronounced with simultaneous articulation at the soft palate and the lips
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labium
a lip or liplike structure
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lablab
a twining leguminous plant, Dolichos lablab (or Lablab niger), of tropical Africa but widely cultivated
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labor
the US spelling of labour
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laboratory
a building or room equipped for conducting scientific research or for teaching practical science
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laborious
involving great exertion or long effort
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labour
productive work, esp physical toil done for wages
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr David Boston
Reason for adoption: Owen loves the labour party!
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labour-intensive
of or denoting a task, organization, industry, etc, in which a high proportion of the costs are due to wages, salaries, etc
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laboured
(of breathing) performed with difficulty
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labourer
a person engaged in physical work, esp of an unskilled kind
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labourism
the dominance of the working classes
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labourist
a person who supports workers' rights
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Labourite
an adherent of the Labour Party
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labra
the plural of labrum
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labradoodle
a type of dog that is a cross between a labrador retriever and a poodle
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Julia Billington
Reason for adoption: It's a favourite type of hound of Eddie's
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Labrador
a large peninsula of NE Canada, on the Atlantic, the Gulf of St Lawrence, Hudson Strait, and Hudson Bay: contains most of Quebec and the mainland part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador; geologically part of the Canadian Shield. Area: 1 619 000 sq km (625 000 sq miles)
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Kerryn Humphreys
Reason for adoption: Happiness is a warm Labrador or three...
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labradorescent
(of minerals) displaying a brilliant play of colours, as that shown by some forms of labradorite
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labradorite
a blue, green, or reddish-brown feldspar mineral of the plagioclase series: used as a decorative stone. Formula: CaAl2Si2O8.NaAlSi3O8
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labret
a piece of bone, shell, etc; inserted into the lip as an ornament by certain peoples
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labroid
any percoid fish of the family Labridae (wrasses)
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labrum
a lip or liplike part, such as the cuticular plate forming the upper lip of insects
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Labuan
an island in Malaysia, off the NW coast of Borneo: part of the Straits Settlements until 1946, when transferred to North Borneo. Chief town: Victoria (or Labuan). Area: 98 sq km (38 sq miles)
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laburnum
any leguminous tree or shrub of the Eurasian genus Laburnum, having clusters of yellow drooping flowers: all parts of the plant are poisonous
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labyrinth
a mazelike network of tunnels, chambers, or paths, either natural or man-made
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labyrinthine
of or relating to a labyrinth
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labyrinthitis
inflammation of the inner ear, causing loss of balance, vertigo, and vomiting
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labyrinthodont
any primitive amphibian of the order Labyrinthodontia, of late Devonian to Triassic times, having teeth with much-folded dentine
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lac
a resinous substance secreted by certain lac insects, used in the manufacture of shellac
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laccolith
a dome-shaped body of igneous rock between two layers of older sedimentary rock: formed by the intrusion of magma, forcing the overlying strata into the shape of a dome
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lace
a delicate decorative fabric made from cotton, silk, etc, woven in an open web of different symmetrical patterns and figures
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Libby Inglis
Reason for adoption: I am a lacemaker and it's a fascinating hobby
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lacebark
another name for ribbonwood
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Lacedaemon
another name for Sparta
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Lacedaemonian
another word for Spartan
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lacerant
painfully distressing; harrowing
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lacerate
to tear (the flesh, etc) jaggedly
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Lacerta
a small faint constellation in the N hemisphere, part of which is crossed by the Milky Way, lying between Cygnus and Andromeda
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lacertilian
any reptile of the suborder Lacertilia (lizards)
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lacewing
any of various neuropterous insects, esp any of the families Chrysopidae (green lacewings) and Hemerobiidae (brown lacewings), having lacy wings and preying on aphids and similar pests
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laches
negligence or unreasonable delay in pursuing a legal remedy
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Lachesis
one of the three Fates
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Lachlan
a river in SE Australia, rising in central New South Wales and flowing northwest then southwest to the Murrumbidgee River. Length: about 1450 km (900 miles)
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lachrymal
a variant spelling of lacrimal
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lachrymator
a variant spelling of lacrimator
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lachrymatory
a small vessel found in ancient tombs, formerly thought to hold the tears of mourners
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lachrymose
given to weeping; tearful
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lacing
a course of bricks, stone, etc, for strengthening a rubble or flint wall
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laciniate
jagged
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lack
an insufficiency, shortage, or absence of something required or desired
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lackadaisical
lacking vitality and purpose
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lackaday
another word for alas
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lacker
a variant spelling of lacquer
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lackey
a servile follower; hanger-on
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lacklustre
lacking force, brilliance, or vitality
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Laconia
an ancient country of S Greece, in the SE Peloponnese, of which Sparta was the capital: corresponds to the present-day department of Lakonia
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Laconian
a native or inhabitant of Laconia, the ancient Greek country of which Sparta was the capital
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laconic
(of a person's speech) using few words; terse
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Nuala D'Arcy
Reason for adoption: This is the man who epitomises the word laconic
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laconism
economy of expression
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lacquer
a hard glossy coating made by dissolving cellulose derivatives or natural resins in a volatile solvent
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lacrimal
of or relating to tears or to the glands that secrete tears
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lacrimation
the secretion of tears
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lacrimator
a substance causing an increase in the flow of tears
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lacrimatory
of, causing, or producing tears
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lacrosse
a ball game invented by Native Americans, now played by two teams who try to propel a ball into each other's goal by means of long-handled hooked sticks that are loosely strung with a kind of netted pouch
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lactalbumin
a protein occurring in milk that contains all the amino acids essential to man
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lactam
any of a group of inner amides, derived from amino acids, having the characteristic group -CONH-
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lactase
any of a group of enzymes that hydrolyse lactose to glucose and galactose
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lactate
an ester or salt of lactic acid
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lactation
the secretion of milk from the mammary glands after parturition
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lacteal
of, relating to, or resembling milk
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lactescent
(of plants and certain insects) secreting a milky fluid
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lactic
relating to or derived from milk
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lactiferous
producing, conveying, or secreting milk or a milky fluid
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lactivist
a person, esp a woman, who advocates strongly the breast-feeding of children, and is opposed to bottle-feeding
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lacto-
indicating milk
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lacto-vegetarian
a vegetarian whose diet includes dairy produce and eggs
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lactobacillus
any Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Lactobacillus, which ferments carbohydrates to lactic acid, for example in the souring of milk: family Lactobacillaceae
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lactoflavin
a less common name for riboflavin
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lactogenic
inducing lactation
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lactoglobulin
any of a number of globular proteins found in milk
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lactometer
a hydrometer used to measure the relative density of milk and thus determine its quality
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lactone
any of a class of organic compounds formed from hydroxy acids and containing the group -C(CO)OC-, where the carbon atoms are part of a ring
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lactoprotein
any protein, such as lactalbumin or caseinogen, that is present in milk
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lactoscope
an instrument for measuring the amount of cream in milk
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lactose
a white crystalline disaccharide occurring in milk and used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and baby foods. Formula: C12H22O11
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lactosuria
the presence of lactose in the urine
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lacuna
a gap or space, esp in a book or manuscript
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lacunar
a ceiling, soffit, or vault having coffers
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lacustrine
of or relating to lakes
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LACW
leading aircraftwoman
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lacy
made of or resembling lace
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lad
a boy or young man
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ladanum
another name for labdanum
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ladder
a portable framework of wood, metal, rope, etc, in the form of two long parallel members connected by several parallel rungs or steps fixed to them at right angles, for climbing up or down
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laddie
a familiar term for a male, esp a young man; lad
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laddish
characteristic of male adolescents or young men, esp by being rowdy, macho, or immature
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lade
to put cargo or freight on board (a ship, etc) or (of a ship, etc) to take on cargo or freight
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laden
weighed down with a load; loaded
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ladette
a young woman whose social behaviour is similar to that of male adolescents or young men
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ladies
a women's public lavatory
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ladies'-tresses
a variant spelling of lady's-tresses
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Ladin
a Rhaetian dialect spoken in parts of South Tyrol
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lading
a load; cargo; freight
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ladino
an Italian variety of white clover grown as a forage crop in North America
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ladle
a long-handled spoon having a deep bowl for serving or transferring liquids
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Ladoga
a lake in NW Russia, in the SW Karelian Republic: the largest lake in Europe; drains through the River Neva into the Gulf of Finland. Area: about 18 000 sq km (7000 sq miles)
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lady
a woman regarded as having the characteristics of a good family and high social position
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Tracey Allen
Reason for adoption: It's my nickname....I am LadyT
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Lady Luck
the personification of fortune or chance
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Lady Muck
an ordinary woman behaving or being treated as if she were aristocratic
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lady's-slipper
any of various orchids of the Eurasian genus Cypripedium, esp C. calceolus, having reddish or purple flowers
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lady's-smock
a N temperate plant, Cardamine pratensis, with white or rose-pink flowers: family Brassicaceae (crucifers)
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lady's-thumb
the usual US name for red shank
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lady's-tresses
any of various orchids of the genera Spiranthes or Goodyera, having spikes of small white fragrant flowers
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lady-in-waiting
a lady of a royal household who attends a queen or princess
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lady-killer
a man who is, or thinks he is, irresistibly fascinating to women
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ladybird
any of various small brightly coloured beetles of the family Coccinellidae, such as Adalia bipunctata (two-spotted ladybird), which has red elytra marked with black spots
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr simon frantz
Reason for adoption: It's one of my favourite words
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ladyboy
a transvestite or transsexual, esp one from the Far East
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ladyfinger
a small finger-shaped sponge cake
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ladyfy
to make a lady of (someone)
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ladylike
like or befitting a lady in manners and bearing; refined and fastidious
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ladylove
a beloved woman
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Ladyship
a title used to address or refer to any peeress except a duchess
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Ladysmith
a city in E South Africa: besieged by Boers for four months (1899--1900) during the Boer War. Pop: 41 427 (2001)
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Laertes
the father of Odysseus
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laetrile
an extract of peach stones, containing amygdalin, sold as a cure for cancer but judged useless and possibly dangerous by medical scientists
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laevo-
on or towards the left
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laevogyrate
another word for laevorotatory
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laevorotation
a rotation to the left
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laevorotatory
of, having, or causing laevorotation
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laevulin
a polysaccharide occurring in the tubers of certain helianthus plants
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laevulose
another name for fructose
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LAFTA
Latin American Free Trade Area, the name before 1981 of the Latin American Integration Association
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lag
to hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc
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lagan
goods or wreckage on the sea bed, sometimes attached to a buoy to permit recovery
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lagena
a bottle with a narrow neck
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lager
a light-bodied effervescent beer, fermented in a closed vessel using yeasts that sink to the bottom of the brew
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Ann Summerlin
Reason for adoption: They like lager!!!!
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lagered-up
intoxicated, esp after drinking lager
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laggard
a person who lags behind
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lagging
insulating material wrapped around pipes, boilers, etc, or laid in a roof loft, to prevent loss of heat
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lagniappe
a small gift, esp one given to a customer who makes a purchase
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lagomorph
any placental mammal of the order Lagomorpha, having two pairs of upper incisors specialized for gnawing: includes pikas, rabbits, and hares
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lagoon
a body of water cut off from the open sea by coral reefs or sand bars
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Lagos
the former capital and chief port of Nigeria, on the Bight of Benin: first settled in the sixteenth century; a slave market until the nineteenth century; ceded to Britain (1861); university (1962). Pop: 11 135 000 (2005 est)
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Lagrangian
of or relating to Comte Joseph Louis Lagrange (1736--1813), the French mathematician and astronomer
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Lagting
the upper chamber of the Norwegian parliament
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lah
(in tonic sol-fa) the sixth note of any major scale; submediant
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lah-di-dah
a variant spelling of la-di-da
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lahar
a landslide of volcanic debris mixed with water down the sides of a volcano, usually precipitated by heavy rainfall
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Lahnda
a language or group of dialects of Pakistan, belonging to the Indic branch of the Indo-European family and closely related to Punjabi
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Lahore
a city in NE Pakistan: capital of the former province of West Pakistan (1955--70); University of the Punjab (1882). Pop: 6 373 000 (2005 est)
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Lahti
a town in S Finland: site of the main Finnish radio and television stations; furniture industry. Pop: 98 253 (2003 est)
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LAIA
Latin American Integration Association (before 1981, known as the Latin American Free Trade Area). An economic group, its members are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
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Laibach
the German name for Ljubljana
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laic
of or involving the laity; secular
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laicize
to withdraw clerical or ecclesiastical character or status from (an institution, building, etc)
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laid
the past tense and past participle of lay
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laid-back
relaxed in style, character, or behaviour; easy-going and unhurried
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laik
to play (a game, etc)
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Lailat-ul-Qadr
a night of study and prayer observed annually by Muslims to mark the communication of the Koran: it usually follows the 27th day of Ramadan
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lain
the past participle of lie
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Laingian
of or based on the theory of Scottish psychiatrist R. D. Laing (1927--89) that mental illnesses are understandable as natural responses to stress in family and social situations
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laipse
to beat soundly
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lair
the resting place of a wild animal
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lairage
accommodation for farm animals, esp at docks or markets
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laird
a landowner, esp of a large estate
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lairy
gaudy or flashy
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laity
laymen, as distinguished from clergymen
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Laius
a king of Thebes, killed by his son Oedipus, who did not know of their relationship
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lake
an expanse of water entirely surrounded by land and unconnected to the sea except by rivers or streams
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Lakeland
of or relating to the Lake District
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laker
a cargo vessel used on lakes
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lakh
(in India and Pakistan) the number 100 000, esp when referring to this sum of rupees
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laksa
(in Malaysia) a dish of Chinese origin consisting of rice noodles served in curry or hot soup
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Lakshmi
the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and the consort of the god Vishnu
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laky
of the reddish colour of the pigment lake
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Lala
a title or form of address, equivalent to Mr, used in India
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Linda Buckley
Reason for adoption: It's what my much-loved grandson calls me.
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lalang
a coarse weedy Malaysian grass, Imperata arundinacea
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lalapalooza
a variant spelling of lollapalooza
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Lallans
a literary version of the variety of English spoken and written in the Lowlands of Scotland
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lallation
a defect of speech consisting of the pronunciation of (r) as (l)
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lallygag
to loiter aimlessly
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lam
to thrash or beat
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Lam.
Lamentations
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lama
a priest or monk of Lamaism
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Lamaism
the Mahayana form of Buddhism of Tibet and Mongolia
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Lamarckian
of or relating to Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de Lamarck (1744--1829), the French naturalist
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Lamarckism
the theory of organic evolution proposed by Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de Lamarck (1744--1829), the French naturalist, based on the principle that characteristics of an organism modified during its lifetime are inheritable
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lamasery
a monastery of lamas
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lamb
the young of a sheep
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lamb's-quarters
a US name for fat hen
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lambada
an erotic dance, originating in Brazil, performed by two people who hold each other closely and gyrate their hips in synchronized movements
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Lambaréné
a town in W Gabon on the Ogooué River: site of the hospital built by Albert Schweitzer, who died and was buried there (1965). Pop: 50 000 (latest est)
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lambast
to beat or whip severely
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lambda
the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), a consonant transliterated as l
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr John Perks
Reason for adoption: It's a word no self-respecting geek can do without.
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lambdacism
excessive use or idiosyncratic pronunciation of l
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lambdoid
having the shape of the Greek letter lambda
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lambent
(esp of a flame) flickering softly over a surface
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Michelle Willis
Reason for adoption: I like the way it sounds and the meaning of it
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lambert
the cgs unit of illumination, equal to 1 lumen per square centimetre
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Lambeth
a borough of S Greater London, on the Thames: contains Lambeth Palace (the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury). Pop: 268 500 (2003 est). Area: 27 sq km (11 sq miles)
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Lambic
a type of Belgian beer brewed with raw wheat and wild yeast in wooden casks, and fermented for at least a year
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lambing
the birth of lambs
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lambkin
a small or young lamb
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lambrequin
an ornamental hanging covering the edge of a shelf or the upper part of a window or door
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lambskin
the skin of a lamb, esp with the wool still on
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LAMDA
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
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lame
disabled or crippled in the legs or feet
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lamebrain
a stupid or slow-witted person
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lamed
the 12th letter in the Hebrew alphabet (), transliterated as l
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lamella
a thin layer, plate, or membrane, esp any of the calcified layers of which bone is formed
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lamelli-
indicating lamella or lamellae
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lamellibranch
another word for bivalve
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lamellibranchiate
A derivative of lamellibranch
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lamellicorn
any beetle of the superfamily Lamellicornia, having flattened terminal plates to the antennae: includes the scarabs and stag beetles
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lamelliform
shaped like a lamella; platelike
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lamellirostral
(of ducks, geese, etc) having a bill fringed with thin plates on the inner edge for straining water from food
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lament
to feel or express sorrow, remorse, or regret (for or over)
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lamentable
wretched, deplorable, or distressing
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lamentation
a lament; expression of sorrow
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Lamentations
a book of the Old Testament, traditionally ascribed to the prophet Jeremiah, lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem
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lamented
grieved for or regretted (often in the phrase late lamented)
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lamestream
the traditional media such as newspapers, television, and radio, considered by some people as old-fashioned and gullible when compared to online news sources such as blogs
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lamia
one of a class of female monsters depicted with a snake's body and a woman's head and breasts
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lamina
a thin plate or layer, esp of bone or mineral
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laminaria
any brown seaweed of the genus Laminaria, having large fluted leathery fronds
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laminarin
a carbohydrate, consisting of repeated glucose units, that is the main storage product of brown algae
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laminate
to make (material in sheet form) by bonding together two or more thin sheets
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laminated
composed of thin sheets (of plastic, wood, etc) superimposed and bonded together by synthetic resins, usually under heat and pressure
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lamination
the act of laminating or the state of being laminated
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laminectomy
surgical incision into the backbone to gain access to the spinal cord
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lamington
a cube of sponge cake coated in chocolate and dried coconut
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laminitis
inflammation of the laminated tissue structure to which the hoof is attached, esp in horses and cattle
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Lammas
Aug 1, held as a feast, commemorating St Peter's miraculous deliverance from prison
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Lammastide
the season of Lammas
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lammergeier
a rare vulture, Gypaetus barbatus, of S Europe, Africa, and Asia, with dark wings, a pale breast, and black feathers around the bill: family Accipitridae (hawks)
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lamp
any of a number of devices that produce illumination
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lampas
a swelling of the mucous membrane of the hard palate of horses
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lampblack
a finely divided form of almost pure carbon produced by the incomplete combustion of organic compounds, such as natural gas, used in making carbon electrodes and dynamo brushes and as a pigment
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Lampedusa
an island in the Mediterranean, between Malta and Tunisia. Area: about 21 sq km (8 sq miles)
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lampern
a migratory European lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis, that spawns in rivers
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lampion
an oil-burning lamp
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lamplighter
(formerly) a person who lit and extinguished street lamps, esp gas ones
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lampoon
a satire in prose or verse ridiculing a person, literary work, etc
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lamppost
a post supporting a lamp, esp in a street
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lamprey
any eel-like cyclostome vertebrate of the family Petromyzonidae, having a round sucking mouth for clinging to and feeding on the blood of other animals
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lamprophyre
any of a group of basic igneous rocks consisting of feldspathoids and ferromagnesian minerals, esp biotite: occurring as dykes and minor intrusions
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LAN
local area network
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lanai
a Hawaiian word for veranda
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Lanarkshire
a historical county of S Scotland: became part of Strathclyde region in 1975; since 1996 administered by the council areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and Glasgow
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lanate
having or consisting of a woolly covering of hairs
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Lancashire
a county of NW England, on the Irish Sea: became a county palatine in 1351 and a duchy attached to the Crown; much reduced in size after the 1974 boundary changes, losing the Furness district to Cumbria and much of the south to Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire: Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool became independent unitary authorities in 1998. It was traditionally a cotton textiles manufacturing region. Administrative centre: Preston. Pop (excluding unitary authorities): 1 147 000 (2003 est). Area (excluding unitary authorities): 2889 sq km (1115 sq miles)
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Lancaster
a city in NW England, former county town of Lancashire, on the River Lune: castle (built on the site of a Roman camp); university (1964). Pop: 45 952 (2001)
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Lancastrian
a native or resident of Lancashire or Lancaster
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lance
a long weapon with a pointed head used by horsemen to unhorse or injure an opponent
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lancejack
a lance corporal
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lancelet
any of several marine animals of the genus Branchiostoma (formerly Amphioxus), esp B. lanceolatus, that are closely related to the vertebrates: subphylum Cephalochordata (cephalochordates)
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Lancelot
(in Arthurian legend) one of the Knights of the Round Table; the lover of Queen Guinevere
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lanceolate
narrow and tapering to a point at each end
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lancer
(formerly) a cavalryman armed with a lance
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lancers
a quadrille for eight or sixteen couples
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lancet
a pointed surgical knife with two sharp edges
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lanceted
having one or more lancet arches or windows
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lancewood
any of various tropical trees, esp Oxandra lanceolata, yielding a tough elastic wood: family Annonaceae
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Lanchow
a variant transliteration of the Chinese name for Lanzhou
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lancinate
(esp of pain) sharp or cutting
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Lancs
Lancashire
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land
the solid part of the surface of the earth as distinct from seas, lakes, etc
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land-holder
a person who owns or occupies land
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land-poor
owning much unprofitable land and lacking the money to maintain its fertility or improve it
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landammann
the chairman of the governing council in any of several Swiss cantons
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landau
a four-wheeled carriage, usually horse-drawn, with two folding hoods that meet over the middle of the passenger compartment
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landaulet
a small landau
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landboard
a narrow board, with wheels larger than those on a skateboard, usually ridden while standing
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Landdrost
the chief magistrate of a district
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landed
owning land
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lander
a spacecraft designed to land on a planet or other body
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Landes
a department of SW France, in Aquitaine region. Capital: Mont-de-Marsan. Pop: 341 254 (2003 est). Area: 9364 sq km (3652 sq miles)
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Landeshauptmann
the head of government in an Austrian state
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landfall
the act of sighting or nearing land, esp from the sea
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landfill
disposal of waste material by burying it under layers of earth
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landform
any natural feature of the earth's surface, such as valleys and mountains
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landgrab
a sudden attempt to establish ownership of or copyright on something in advance of competitors
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landgrave
(from the 13th century to 1806) a count who ruled over a specified territory
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landgraviate
the domain or position of a landgrave or landgravine
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landgravine
the wife or widow of a landgrave
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landing
the act of coming to land, esp after a flight or sea voyage
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landlady
a woman who owns and leases property
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landlocked
(of a country) completely surrounded by land
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landloper
a vagabond or vagrant
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landlord
a man who owns and leases property
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landlordism
the system by which land under private ownership is rented for a fixed sum to tenants
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landlubber
any person having no experience at sea
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landmark
a prominent or well-known object in or feature of a particular landscape
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landmass
a large continuous area of land, as opposed to seas or islands
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landowner
a person who owns land
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landrace
a white very long-bodied lop-eared breed of pork pig
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Landrost
a variant spelling of Landdrost
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lands
holdings in land
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landscape
an extensive area of land regarded as being visually distinct
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landscaper
a landscape gardener
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landscapist
a painter of landscapes
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landshark
a person who makes inordinate profits by buying and selling land
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Landshut
a city in SE Germany, in Bavaria: Trausnitz castle (13th century); manufacturing centre for machinery and chemicals. Pop: 60 282 (2003 est)
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landside
the part of an airport farthest from the aircraft, the boundary of which is the security check, customs, passport control, etc
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landsknecht
a mercenary foot soldier in late 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century Europe, esp a German pikeman
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landslide
the sliding of a large mass of rock material, soil, etc, down the side of a mountain or cliff
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landsman
a person who works or lives on land, as distinguished from a seaman
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Landsmål
another name for Nynorsk
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Landtag
the legislative assembly of each state in present-day Germany and Austria
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landwaiter
an officer of the Custom House
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landward
lying, facing, or moving towards land
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landwards
towards land
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lane
a narrow road or way between buildings, hedges, fences, etc
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lang
a Scot word for long
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langar
the dining hall in a gurdwara
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langer
a disagreeable person
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Gráinne O'Meara
Reason for adoption: What Cork girl wouldn't want to adopt a langer?
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langered
intoxicated; drunk
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langlauf
cross-country skiing
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Langobard
a less common name for a Lombard
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Langobardic
the language of the ancient Lombards: a dialect of Old High German
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langouste
another name for the spiny lobster
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langoustine
a large prawn or small lobster
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langrage
shot consisting of scrap iron packed into a case, formerly used in naval warfare
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langsyne
long ago; long since
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language
a system for the expression of thoughts, feelings, etc, by the use of spoken sounds or conventional symbols
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langue
language considered as an abstract system or a social institution, being the common possession of a speech community
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Languedoc
a former province of S France, lying between the foothills of the Pyrenees and the River Rhône: formed around the countship of Toulouse in the 13th century; important production of bulk wines
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Languedoc-Roussillon
a region of S France, on the Gulf of Lions: consists of the departments of Lozère, Gard, Hérault, Aude, and Pyrénées-Orientales; mainly mountainous with a coastal plain
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languet
anything resembling a tongue in shape or function
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languid
without energy or spirit
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languish
to lose or diminish in strength or energy
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languor
physical or mental laziness or weariness
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languorous
characterized by or producing languor
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langur
any of various agile arboreal Old World monkeys of the genus Presbytis and related genera, of S and SE Asia having a slender body, long tail and hands, and long hair surrounding the face
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laniard
a variant spelling of lanyard
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laniary
(esp of canine teeth) adapted for tearing
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laniferous
bearing wool or fleecy hairs resembling wool
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lank
long and limp
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lanky
tall, thin, and loose-jointed
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lanner
a large falcon, Falco biarmicus, of Mediterranean regions, N Africa, and S Asia
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lanneret
the male or tercel of the lanner falcon
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lanolin
a yellowish viscous substance extracted from wool, consisting of a mixture of esters of fatty acids: used in some ointments
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lanose
another word for lanate
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lanosity
A derivative of lanose
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Lansing
a city in S Michigan, on the Grand River: the state capital. Pop: 118 379 (2003 est)
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lansquenet
a gambling game of chance
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lantana
any verbenaceous shrub or herbaceous plant of the tropical American genus Lantana, esp L. camara, having spikes or umbels of yellow or orange flowers. It has been widely introduced and is regarded as a troublesome weed in some places
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lantern
a light with a transparent or translucent protective case
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lantern-jawed
having a long hollow jaw that gives the face a drawn appearance
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lanthanide
any element of the lanthanide series
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lanthanum
a silvery-white ductile metallic element of the lanthanide series, occurring principally in bastnaesite and monazite: used in pyrophoric alloys, electronic devices, and in glass manufacture. Symbol: La; atomic no: 57; atomic wt: 138.9055; valency: 3; relative density: 6.145; melting pt: 918°C; boiling pt: 3464°C
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lanthorn
an archaic word for lantern
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lanugo
a layer of fine hairs, esp the covering of the human fetus before birth
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Lanús
a city in E Argentina: a S suburb of Buenos Aires. Pop: 466 755 (1991)
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lanyard
a cord worn around the neck, shoulder, etc, to hold something such as a whistle or knife
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Lanzarote
the most easterly of the Canary Islands; mountainous, with a volcanic landscape; tourism, fishing. Pop: 109 942 (2002 est). Area: 795 sq km (307 sq miles)
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Lanzhou
a city in N China, capital of Gansu province, on the Yellow River: situated on the main route between China and the West op.: 1 788 000 (2005 est)
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Lao
another name for Laotian
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Laoag
a city in the N Philippines, on NW Luzon: trade centre for an agricultural region. Pop: 94 466 (2000)
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Laocoon
a priest of Apollo at Troy who warned the Trojans against the wooden horse left by the Greeks; killed with his twin sons by two sea serpents
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Laodicea
the ancient name of several Greek cities in W Asia, notably of Latakia
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laodicean
lukewarm and indifferent, esp in religious matters
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Laoighis
a variant spelling of Laois
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Laois
a county of central Republic of Ireland, in Leinster province: formerly boggy but largely reclaimed for agriculture. County town: Portlaoise. Pop: 58 774 (2002). Area: 1719 sq km (664 sq miles)
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Laomedon
the founder and ruler of Troy, who cheated Apollo and Poseidon of their wage for constructing the city's walls; the father of Priam
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Laos
a republic in SE Asia: first united as the kingdom of Lan Xang (``million elephants'') in 1353, after being a province of the Khmer Empire for about four centuries; made part of French Indochina in 1893 and gained independence in 1949; became a republic in 1975. It is generally forested and mountainous, with the Mekong River running almost the whole length of the W border. Official language: Laotian. Religion: Buddhist majority, tribal religions. Currency: kip. Capital: Vientiane. Pop: 5 787 000 (2004 est). Area: 236 800 sq km (91 429 sq miles)
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Laotian
a member of a Buddhist people of Laos and NE Thailand, related to the Thais
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lap
the area formed by the upper surface of the thighs of a seated person
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lap-chart
a log of every lap covered by each car in a race, showing the exact position throughout
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laparoscope
a medical instrument consisting of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall and illuminated to enable a doctor to view the internal organs
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laparotomy
surgical incision through the abdominal wall, esp to investigate the cause of an abdominal disorder
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lapboard
a flat board that can be used on the lap as a makeshift table or desk
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lapdog
a pet dog small and docile enough to be cuddled in the lap
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lapel
the continuation of the turned or folded back collar on a suit coat, jacket, etc
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LaPerm
a breed of medium-sized curly-haired cat with large ears
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lapheld
(esp of a personal computer) small enough to be used on one's lap; portable
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lapidary
a person whose business is to cut, polish, set, or deal in gemstones
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lapidate
to pelt with stones
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lapidicolous
living under stones
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lapidify
to change into stone
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lapillus
a small piece of lava thrown from a volcano
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Lapith
a member of a people in Thessaly who at the wedding of their king, Pirithoüs, fought the drunken centaurs
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Lapland
an extensive region of N Europe, mainly within the Arctic Circle: consists of the N parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of the extreme NW of Russia
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Laplander
a native or inhabitant of Lapland
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Lapp
a member of a nomadic people living chiefly in N Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula of Russia
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lappet
a small hanging flap or piece of lace, etc, such as one dangling from a headdress
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Lappish
of or relating to the Lapps, a nomadic people living chiefly in N Scandinavia and the Kola Peninsula of Russia, or their language
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lapse
a drop in standard of an isolated or temporary nature
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lapstrake
a clinker-built boat
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lapsus
a lapse or error
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laptop
a personal computer that is small and light enough to be operated on the user's lap
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laptray
a tray with a cushioned underside, designed to rest in a person's lap while supporting reading material, a meal eaten while watching television, etc
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lapwing
any of several plovers of the genus Vanellus, esp V. vanellus, typically having a crested head, wattles, and spurs
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lar
the singular of lares
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larboard
a former word for port
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larcener
A derivative of larceny
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larcenist
A derivative of larceny
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larceny
(formerly) a technical word for theft
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larch
any coniferous tree of the genus Larix, having deciduous needle-like leaves and egg-shaped cones: family Pinaceae
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lard
the rendered fat from a pig, esp from the abdomen, used in cooking
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larder
a room or cupboard, used as a store for food
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lardon
a strip or cube of fat or bacon used in larding meat
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lardy
fat; obese
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Laredo
a city in the US, in Texas, on the Mexican border: founded by the Spanish in 1755 on the Rio Grande. Pop: 197 488 (2003 est)
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Largactil
a brand of chlorpromazine used as a tranquillizer, sedative, and antipsychotic
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large
having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big
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large it
to enjoy oneself or celebrate in an extravagant way
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large-format
of or relating to a camera with an image area of 5 inches by 4 inches or more
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large-handed
generous; profuse
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large-hearted
kind; sympathetic
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large-minded
generous or liberal in attitudes
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large-scale
wide-ranging or extensive
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largely
principally; to a great extent
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largen
another word for enlarge
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largesse
the generous bestowal of gifts, favours, or money
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larghetto
to be performed moderately slowly
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largish
fairly large
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largo
to be performed slowly and broadly
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lari
the standard monetary unit of Georgia, divided into 100 tetri
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Lariam
a brand of mefloquine, used in the treatment and prevention of malaria
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lariat
a rope for tethering animals
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larine
of, relating to, or resembling a gull
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Larisa
a city in E Greece, in E Thessaly: fortified by Justinian; annexed to Greece in 1881. Pop: 130 000 (2005 est)
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lark
any brown songbird of the predominantly Old World family Alaudidae, esp the skylark: noted for their singing
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larkspur
any of various ranunculaceous plants of the genus Delphinium, with spikes of blue, pink, or white irregular spurred flowers
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larky
frolicsome or mischievous
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larn
to learn
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larnax
a coffin made of terracotta
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Larne
a district of NE Northern Ireland, in Co Antrim. Pop: 30 948 (2003 est). Area: 336 sq km (130 sq miles)
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larney
a white person
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LARP
a type of role-playing game in which each participant assumes a particular character and acts out various scenarios at events which last for a predetermined time
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larrigan
a knee-high oiled leather moccasin boot worn by trappers, etc
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larrikin
a mischievous person
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larrup
to beat or flog
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Larry
extremely happy
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larum
an archaic word for alarm
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larva
an immature free-living form of many animals that develops into a different adult form by metamorphosis
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larvicide
a chemical used for killing larvae
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laryngeal
of or relating to the larynx
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laryngectomy
surgical removal of all or part of the larynx
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laryngitis
inflammation of the larynx
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laryngo-
indicating the larynx
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laryngology
the branch of medicine concerned with the larynx and its diseases
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laryngoscope
a medical instrument for examining the larynx
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laryngotomy
surgical incision into the larynx
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larynx
a cartilaginous and muscular hollow organ forming part of the air passage to the lungs: in higher vertebrates it contains the vocal cords
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lasagne
a form of pasta consisting of wide flat sheets
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lascar
a sailor from the East Indies
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Lascaux
the site of a cave in SW France, in the Dordogne: contains Palaeolithic wall drawings and paintings
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lase
(of a substance, such as carbon dioxide or ruby) to be capable of acting as a laser
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laser
a source of high-intensity optical, infrared, or ultraviolet radiation produced as a result of stimulated emission maintained within a solid, liquid, or gaseous medium. The photons involved in the emission process all have the same energy and phase so that the laser beam is monochromatic and coherent, allowing it to be brought to a fine focus
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laserdisc
a disk similar in size to a long-playing record, on which data is stored in pits in a similar way to data storage on a compact disk, used esp for storing high-quality video
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lash
a sharp cutting blow from a whip or other flexible object
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lash-up
a temporary connection of equipment for experimental or emergency use
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lashed
intoxicated; drunk
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lashing
a whipping; flogging
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Lashio
a town in NE central Myanmar: starting point of the Burma Road to Chongqing, China
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Lashkar
a former city in N India, in Madhya Pradesh: capital of the former states of Gwalior and Madhya Bharat; now part of the city of Gwalior
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lasket
a loop at the foot of a sail onto which an extra sail may be fastened
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lass
a girl or young woman
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Lassa
a variant spelling of Lhasa
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lassi
a cold drink made with yoghurt or buttermilk and flavoured with sugar, salt, or a mild spice
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lassie
a little lass; girl
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lassitude
physical or mental weariness
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lasso
a long rope or thong with a running noose at one end, used (esp in America) for roping horses, cattle, etc; lariat
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last
being, happening, or coming at the end or after all others
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last-cyclic
denoting rules that apply only to main clauses
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last-ditch
made or done as a last desperate attempt or effort in the face of opposition
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last-gasp
done in desperation at the last minute
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last-minute
given or done at the latest possible time
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lasting
permanent or enduring
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lastly
at the end or at the last point
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lat.
latitude
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latah
a psychological condition, observed esp in Malaysian cultures, in which an individual, after experiencing a shock, becomes anxious and suggestible, often imitating the actions of another person
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Latakia
the chief port of Syria, in the northwest: tobacco industry. Pop: 486 000 (2005 est)
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Latam
Latin America
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latch
a fastening for a gate or door that consists of a bar that may be slid or lowered into a groove, hole, etc
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latchet
a shoe fastening, such as a thong or lace
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latchkey
a key for an outside door or gate, esp one that lifts a latch
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latchstring
a length of string fastened to a latch and passed through a hole in the door so that it can be opened from the other side
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late
occurring or arriving after the correct or expected time
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latecomer
a person or thing that comes late
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lated
an archaic word for belated
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lateen
denoting a rig with a triangular sail (lateen sail) bent to a yard hoisted to the head of a low mast, used esp in the Mediterranean
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lateenrigged
rigged with a lateen sail
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lately
in recent times; of late
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latent
potential but not obvious or explicit
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later
afterwards; subsequently
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lateral
of or relating to the side or sides
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laterality
the difference in the mental functions controlled by the left and right cerebral hemispheres of the brain
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Lateran
a palace in Rome, formerly the official residence of the popes
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laterigrade
(of some crabs) having a gait characterized by sideways movement
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laterite
any of a group of deposits consisting of residual insoluble deposits of ferric and aluminium oxides: formed by weathering of rocks in tropical regions
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lateroversion
abnormal lateral displacement of a bodily organ or part, esp of the uterus
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latest
most recent, modern, or new
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latex
a whitish milky fluid containing protein, starch, alkaloids, etc, that is produced by many plants. Latex from the rubber tree is used in the manufacture of rubber
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lath
one of several thin narrow strips of wood used to provide a supporting framework for plaster, tiles, etc
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lathe
a machine for shaping, boring, facing, or cutting a screw thread in metal, wood, etc, in which the workpiece is turned about a horizontal axis against a fixed tool
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lather
foam or froth formed by the action of soap or a detergent in water
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lathi
a long heavy wooden stick used as a weapon in India, esp by the police
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lathy
resembling a lath, esp in being tall and thin
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lathyrism
a neurological disease often resulting in weakness and paralysis of the legs: caused by eating the pealike seeds of the leguminous plant Lathyrus sativus
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latices
a plural of latex
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laticifer
a cell or group of cells in a plant that contains latex
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latifundium
a large agricultural estate, esp one worked by slaves in ancient Rome
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latimeria
any coelacanth fish of the genus Latimeria
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Latin
the language of ancient Rome and the Roman Empire and of the educated in medieval Europe, which achieved its classical form during the 1st century bc. Having originally been the language of Latium, belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European family, it later formed the basis of the Romance group
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Latin-1
another name for ISO Latin-1
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Latina
a city in W central Italy, in Lazio: built as a planned town in 1932 on reclaimed land of the Pontine Marshes. Pop: 107 898 (2001)
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Latinate
(of writing, vocabulary, etc) imitative of or derived from Latin
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Latinism
a word, idiom, or phrase borrowed from Latin
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Latinist
a person who studies or is proficient in Latin
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Latinity
facility in the use of Latin
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Latinize
to translate into Latin or Latinisms
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Latino
an inhabitant of the US who is of Latin American origin
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latish
rather late
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latitude
an angular distance in degrees north or south of the equator (latitude 0°), equal to the angle subtended at the centre of the globe by the meridian between the equator and the point in question
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latitudinarian
permitting or marked by freedom of attitude or behaviour, esp in religious matters
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Latium
an ancient territory in W central Italy, in modern Lazio, on the Tyrrhenian Sea: inhabited by the Latin people from the 10th century bc until dominated by Rome (4th century bc)
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Latona
the Roman name of Leto
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latria
the adoration that may be offered to God alone
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latrine
a lavatory, as in a barracks, camp, etc
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lats
the standard monetary unit of Latvia, divided into 100 santimi
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latte
coffee made with hot milk
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Christopher Dragich
Reason for adoption: Very possibly her favorite word, especially in the morning.
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latten
metal or alloy, esp brass, made in thin sheets
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latter
denoting the second or second mentioned of two: distinguished from former
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latter-day
present-day; modern
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latterly
recently; lately
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lattermost
a less common word for last
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lattice
an open framework of strips of wood, metal, etc, arranged to form an ornamental pattern
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Latvia
a republic in NE Europe, on the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea: ruled by Poland, Sweden, and Russia since the 13th century, Latvia was independent from 1919 until 1940 and was a Soviet republic (1940--91), gaining its independence after conflict with Soviet forces; it joined the EU in 2004. Latvia is mostly forested. Official language: Latvian. Religion: nonreligious, Christian. Currency: lats. Capital: Riga. Pop: 2 286 000 (2004 est). Area: 63 700 sq km (25 590 sq miles)
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Latvian
of or relating to Latvia, its people, or their language
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laud
to praise or glorify
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laudable
deserving or worthy of praise; admirable; commendable
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laudanum
a tincture of opium
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laudation
a formal word for praise
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laudatory
expressing or containing praise; eulogistic
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Laudian
of or relating to the High-Church standards set up for the Church of England by William Laud (1573--1645), English archbishop of Canterbury (1633--45)
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lauds
the traditional morning prayer of the Western Church, constituting with matins the first of the seven canonical hours
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laugh
to express or manifest emotion, esp mirth or amusement, typically by expelling air from the lungs in short bursts to produce an inarticulate voiced noise, with the mouth open
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Nick Taynton
Reason for adoption: She never stops laughing!
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laughable
producing scorn; ludicrous
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laughter
the action of or noise produced by laughing
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Sophie Seymour
Reason for adoption: because it's one of the best things in the world
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launce
another name for the sand eel
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Launceston
a city in Australia, the chief port of the island state of Tasmania on the Tamar River, 64 km (40 miles) from Bass Strait. Pop: 68 443 (2001)
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launch
to move (a vessel) into the water
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launcher
any installation, vehicle, or other device for launching rockets, missiles, or other projectiles
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launder
to wash, sometimes starch, and often also iron (clothes, linen, etc)
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Launderette
a commercial establishment where clothes can be washed and dried, using coin-operated machines
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laundress
a woman who launders clothes, sheets, etc, for a living
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laundrette
a variant of Launderette
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Laundromat
a commercial establishment where clothes can be washed and dried, using coin-operated machines
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laundry
a place where clothes and linen are washed and ironed
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laundryman
a man who collects or delivers laundry
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laundrywoman
a woman who collects or delivers laundry
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lauraceous
of, relating to, or belonging to the Lauraceae, a family of aromatic trees and shrubs having leathery leaves: includes the laurels and avocado
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Laurasia
one of the two ancient supercontinents produced by the first split of the even larger supercontinent Pangaea about 200 million years ago, comprising what are now North America, Greenland, Europe, and Asia (excluding India)
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laureate
crowned with laurel leaves as a sign of honour
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laurel
any lauraceous tree of the genus Laurus, such as the bay tree (see bay4) and L. canariensis, of the Canary Islands and Azores
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Laurentian
of or resembling the style of D. H. Lawrence (1885--1930), the British novelist, poet, and short-story writer, or T. E. Lawrence ``of Arabia'' (1885--1935), the British soldier and writer
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laurustinus
a Mediterranean caprifoliaceous shrub, Viburnum tinus, with glossy evergreen leaves and white or pink fragrant flowers
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Lausanne
a city in W Switzerland, capital of Vaud canton, on Lake Geneva; cultural and commercial centre; university (1537). Pop: 116 300 (2002 est)
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lav
short for lavatory
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lava
magma emanating from volcanoes and other vents
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Dr Ross James
Reason for adoption: Lava is the word.
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lava-lava
a draped skirtlike garment of printed cotton or calico worn by Polynesians
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lavabo
the ritual washing of the celebrant's hands after the offertory at Mass
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lavage
the washing out of a hollow organ by flushing with water
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Laval
a city in SE Canada, in Quebec: a NW suburb of Montreal. Pop: 343 005 (2001)
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lavandin
1 a hybrid plant with blue or grey flowers, developed by crossing true lavender with spike lavender 2 an essential oil extracted from this plant
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lavatera
any plant of the genus Lavatera, closely resembling mallow and grown for their purple, white, or rose-coloured flowers: family Malvaceae
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lavation
the act or process of washing
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lavatorial
of or in the style of decoration supposed to typify public lavatories
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lavatory
a sanitary installation for receiving and disposing of urine and faeces, consisting of a bowl fitted with a water-flushing device and connected to a drain
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lave
an archaic word for wash
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lavender
any of various perennial shrubs or herbaceous plants of the genus Lavandula, esp L. vera, cultivated for its mauve or blue flowers and as the source of a fragrant oil (oil of lavender): family Lamiaceae (labiates)
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laver
a large basin of water used by the priests for ritual ablutions
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laverock
a Scot and northern English dialect word for skylark
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lavish
prolific, abundant, or profuse
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lavolta
another word for volta
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law
a rule or set of rules, enforceable by the courts, regulating the government of a state, the relationship between the organs of government and the subjects of the state, and the relationship or conduct of subjects towards each other
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law-abiding
adhering more or less strictly to the laws
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law-and-order
favouring or advocating strong measures to suppress crime and violence
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lawbreaker
a person who breaks the law
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lawfare
(of a country) the practice of using the law against its enemies, esp by challenging the legality of military or foreign policy
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lawful
allowed, recognized, or sanctioned by law; legal
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lawgiver
the giver of a code of laws
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lawin
a bill or reckoning
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lawks
an expression of surprise or dismay
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lawless
without law
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lawman
an officer of the law, such as a policeman or sheriff
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lawn
a flat and usually level area of mown and cultivated grass
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lawrencium
a transuranic element artificially produced from californium. Symbol: Lr; atomic no: 103; half-life of most stable isotope, 256Lr: 35 seconds; valency: 3
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Lawrentian
relating to or characteristic of D(avid) H(erbert) Lawrence (1885-1930), the British novelist, poet, and short-story writer
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lawsuit
a proceeding in a court of law brought by one party against another, esp a civil action
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lawyer
a member of the legal profession, esp a solicitor
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Trish Hicken
Reason for adoption: Because he is one
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lax
lacking firmness; not strict
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laxation
the act of making lax or the state of being lax
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laxative
an agent stimulating evacuation of faeces
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lay
to put in a low or horizontal position; cause to lie
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lay-by
a place for drivers to stop at the side of a main road
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layabout
a lazy person; loafer
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layback
a technique for climbing cracks by pulling on one side of the crack with the hands and pressing on the other with the feet
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laydeez
a jocular spelling of ladies, as pronounced in a mid-Atlantic accent
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layer
a thickness of some homogeneous substance, such as a stratum or a coating on a surface
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layering
a method of propagation that induces a shoot or branch to take root while it is still attached to the parent plant
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layette
a complete set of articles, including clothing, bedclothes, and other accessories, for a newborn baby
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layman
a man who is not a member of the clergy
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layshaft
an auxiliary shaft in a gearbox, running parallel to the main shaft, to and from which drive is transferred to enable varying ratios to be obtained
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laytime
the period of time allowed by a shipowner to a carrier to carry out cargo loading or discharging operations
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laywoman
a woman who is not a member of the clergy
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lazar
an archaic word for leper
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lazar-like
A derivative of lazar
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lazaretto
a small locker at the stern of a boat or a storeroom between decks of a ship
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Lazarus
the brother of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus restored to life (John 11--12)
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laze
to be indolent or lazy
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Lazio
a region of W central Italy, on the Tyrrhenian Sea: includes the plain of the lower Tiber, the reclaimed Pontine Marshes, and Campagna. Capital: Rome. Pop: 5 145 805 (2003 est)
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lazuli
short for lapis lazuli
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lazulite
a blue mineral, consisting of hydrated magnesium iron phosphate, occurring in metamorphic rocks. Formula: (Mg,Fe)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2
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lazurite
a rare blue mineral consisting of a sodium--calcium--aluminium silicate and sulphide: used as the gemstone lapis lazuli. Formula: (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4,S,Cl)2
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lazy
not inclined to work or exertion
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lazybones
a lazy person
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lb
leg bye
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LBD
little black dress
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lbf
pound force
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LBO
leveraged buyout
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LBV
Late Bottled Vintage: applied to port wine that has been matured in casks for six years and is then ready for drinking
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lbw
leg before wicket
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lc
left centre (of a stage, etc)
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lcd
lowest common denominator
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LCJ
Lord Chief Justice
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LCL
less than carload lot
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lcm
lowest common multiple
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LCoS
liquid crystal on silicon: a technology used in television screens in which liquid crystals are applied to a silicon chip, allowing the production of high resolution images
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ld
load
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Ldg
leading
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LDL
low-density lipoprotein
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LDR
long distance relationship
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LDS
Latter-day Saints
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LE
lupus erythematosus
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lea
a meadow or field
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lea-rig
a ridge of unploughed land
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leach
to remove or be removed from a substance by a percolating liquid
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leachate
water that carries salts dissolved out of materials through which it has percolated, esp polluted water from a refuse tip
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lead
to show the way to (an individual or a group) by going with or ahead
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lead-in
an introduction to a subject
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leaded
(of windows) composed of small panes of glass held in place by thin grooved strips of lead
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leaden
heavy and inert
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leader
a person who rules, guides, or inspires others; head
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leaderboard
a board displaying the names and current scores of the leading competitors, esp in a golf tournament
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leadership
the position or function of a leader
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leading
guiding, directing, or influencing
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leadsman
a sailor who takes soundings with a lead line
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leadwort
any shrub of the plumbaginaceous genus Plumbago, of tropical and subtropical regions, with red, blue, or white flowers
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leaf
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants, usually consisting of a flat green blade attached to the stem directly or by a stalk
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leaf-climber
a plant that climbs by using leaves specialized as tendrils
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leaf-hopper
any homopterous insect of the family Cicadellidae, including various pests of crops
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leaf-lard
lard prepared from the leaf fat of a pig
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leafage
a less common word for foliage
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leaflet
a printed and usually folded sheet of paper for distribution, usually free and containing advertising material or information about a political party, charity, etc
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leafstalk
the stalk attaching a leaf to a stem or branch
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leafy
covered with or having leaves
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league
an association or union of persons, nations, etc, formed to promote the interests of its members
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leaguer
an encampment, esp of besiegers
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Leah
the first wife of Jacob and elder sister of Rachel, his second wife (Genesis 29)
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leak
a crack, hole, etc, that allows the accidental escape or entrance of fluid, light, etc
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leakage
the act or an instance of leaking
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leaky
leaking or tending to leak
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leal
loyal; faithful
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lean
to rest or cause to rest against a support
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lean-burn
(esp of an internal-combustion engine) designed to use a lean mixture of fuel and air in order to reduce petrol consumption and exhaust emissions
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lean-to
a roof that has a single slope with its upper edge adjoining a wall or building
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Leander
(in Greek legend) a youth of Abydos, who drowned in the Hellespont in a storm on one of his nightly visits to Hero, his beloved
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leaning
a tendency or inclination
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leant
a past tense and past participle of lean
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leap
to jump suddenly from one place to another
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leapfrog
a children's game in which each player in turn leaps over the others' bent backs, leaning on them with the hands and spreading the legs wide
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leapt
a past tense and past participle of leap
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learn
to gain knowledge of (something) or acquire skill in (some art or practice)
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learned
having great knowledge or erudition
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learner
someone who is learning something; beginner
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learning
knowledge gained by study; instruction or scholarship
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learnt
a past tense and past participle of learn
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leary
empty
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lease
a contract by which property is conveyed to a person for a specified period, usually for rent
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leaseback
a property transaction in which the buyer leases the property to the seller
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leasehold
land or property held under a lease
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leaseholder
a person in possession of leasehold property
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leash
a line or rope used to walk or control a dog or other animal; lead
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least
(as pronoun; functioning as sing)
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leastways
at least; anyway; at any rate
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leat
a trench or ditch that conveys water to a mill wheel
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leather
a material consisting of the skin of an animal made smooth and flexible by tanning, removing the hair, etc
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Dr Nicola Conn
Reason for adoption: For our three year anniversary
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leatherback
a large turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, of warm and tropical seas, having a ridged leathery carapace: family Dermochelidae
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leatherette
an imitation leather made from paper, cloth, etc
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leatherhead
another name for friarbird
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leatherjacket
any of various tropical carangid fishes of the genera Oligoplites and Scomberoides, having a leathery skin
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leathern
made of or resembling leather
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leatherneck
a member of the US Marine Corps
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leatherwood
a North American thymelaeaceous shrub, Dirca palustris, with pale yellow flowers and tough flexible branches
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leathery
having the appearance or texture of leather, esp in toughness
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leave
to go or depart (from a person or place)
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leave-taking
the act of departing; a farewell
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leaved
having a leaf or leaves; leafed
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leaven
any substance that produces fermentation in dough or batter, such as yeast, and causes it to rise
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Leavenworth
a city in NE Kansas, on the Missouri River: the state's oldest city, founded in 1854 by proslavery settlers from Missouri. Pop: 35 211 (2003 est)
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leaves
the plural of leaf
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leavings
something remaining, such as food on a plate, residue, refuse, etc
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Leavisite
of or relating to F(rank) R(aymond) Leavis, the English literary critic (1895--1978),
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Leb
a person from Lebanon or of Lebanese origin
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Lebanese
of or relating to Lebanon or its inhabitants
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Lebanon
a republic in W Asia, on the Mediterranean: an important centre of the Phoenician civilization in the third millennium bc; part of the Ottoman Empire from 1516 until 1919; gained independence in 1941 (effective by 1945). Official language: Arabic; French and English are also widely spoken. Religion: Muslim and Christian. Currency: Lebanese pound. Capital: Beirut. Pop: 3 708 000 (2004 est). Area: 10 400 sq km (4015 sq miles)
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leben
a semiliquid food made from curdled milk in N Africa and the Levant
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Lebensraum
territory claimed by a nation or state on the grounds that it is necessary for survival or growth
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lebkuchen
a biscuit, originating from Germany, usually containing honey, spices, etc
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Lebowa
a former Bantu homeland in NE South Africa, consisting of three separate territories with several smaller exclaves: abolished in 1993
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LEC
Local Enterprise Company
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Lecce
a walled city in SE Italy, in Puglia: Greek and Roman remains. Pop: 83 303 (2001)
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leccy
electricity
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lech
to behave lecherously (towards); lust (after)
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lechaim
a drinking toast
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lecher
a promiscuous or lewd man
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lecherous
characterized by or inciting lechery
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lechery
unrestrained and promiscuous sexuality
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lecithin
any of a group of phospholipids that are found in many plant and animal tissues, esp egg yolk: used in making candles, cosmetics, and inks, and as an emulsifier and stabilizer in foods (E322)
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lecithinase
any of a group of enzymes that remove the fatty-acid residue from lecithins: present in the venom of many snakes
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lectern
a reading desk or support in a church
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lectin
a type of protein possessing high affinity for a specific sugar; lectins are often highly toxic
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lection
a variant reading of a passage in a particular copy or edition of a text
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lectionary
a book containing readings appointed to be read at divine services
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lector
a lecturer or reader in certain universities
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lecture
a discourse on a particular subject given or read to an audience
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lecturer
a person who lectures
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lectureship
the office or position of lecturer
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lecythus
(in ancient Greece) a vase with a narrow neck
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led
the past tense and past participle of lead
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Leda
a queen of Sparta who was the mother of Helen and Pollux by Zeus, who visited her in the form of a swan
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lederhosen
leather shorts with H-shaped braces, worn by men in Austria, Bavaria, etc
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ledge
a narrow horizontal surface resembling a shelf and projecting from a wall, window, etc
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ledger
the principal book in which the commercial transactions of a company are recorded
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lee
a sheltered part or side; the side away from the direction from which the wind is blowing
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leeboard
one of a pair of large adjustable paddle-like boards that may be lowered along the lee side to reduce sideways drift or leeway
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leech
any annelid worm of the class Hirudinea, which have a sucker at each end of the body and feed on the blood or tissues of other animals
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Leeds
a city in N England, in Leeds unitary authority, West Yorkshire on the River Aire: linked with Liverpool and Goole by canals; a former centre of the clothing industry; two universities (1904, 1992). Pop: 443 247 (2001)
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Michael Lamb
Reason for adoption: I support this team with my whole being and i love the people
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leek
an alliaceous plant, Allium porrum, with a slender white bulb, cylindrical stem, and broad flat overlapping leaves: used in cooking
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leer
to give an oblique, sneering, or suggestive look or grin
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leery
knowing or sly
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lees
the sediment from an alcoholic drink
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leet
a special kind of manorial court that some lords were entitled to hold
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leetspeak
a jargon used by some internet groups, in which standard English is translated into a mixture of letters, numerals, and symbols found on a computer keyboard
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Leeuwarden
a city in the N Netherlands, capital of Friesland province. Pop: 91 000 (2003 est)
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leeward
of, in, or moving to the quarter towards which the wind blows
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leeway
room for free movement within limits, as in action or expenditure
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Lefko
the Turkish name for Nicosia
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left
of or designating the side of something or someone that faces west when the front is turned towards the north
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left-field
regarded as being outside the mainstream; unconventional
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left-footer
(esp in Ireland and Scotland) a Roman Catholic
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left-hand
of, relating to, located on, or moving towards the left
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left-handed
using the left hand with greater ease than the right
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left-hander
a blow with the left hand
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leftist
of, tending towards, or relating to the political left or its principles
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leftover
an unused portion or remnant, as of material or of cooked food
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leftward
on or towards the left
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leftwards
towards or on the left
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lefty
a left-winger
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leg
either of the two lower limbs, including the bones and fleshy covering of the femur, tibia, fibula, and patella
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leg-of-mutton
(of a sail, sleeve, etc) tapering sharply or having a triangular profile
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leg-pull
a practical joke or mild deception
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leg.
legato
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legacy
a gift by will, esp of money or personal property
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legal
established by or founded upon law; lawful
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legalese
the conventional language in which legal documents, etc, are written
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legalism
strict adherence to the law, esp the stressing of the letter of the law rather than its spirit
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legalistic
of, relating to, or exhibiting strict adherence to the law, esp to the letter of the law rather than its spirit
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legality
the state or quality of being legal or lawful
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legalize
to make lawful or legal
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Legaspi
a port in the Philippines, on SE Luzon on the Gulf of Albay. Pop: 178 000 (2005 est)
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legate
a messenger, envoy, or delegate
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legatee
a person to whom a legacy is bequeathed
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legation
a diplomatic mission headed by a minister
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legato
to be performed smoothly and connectedly
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legator
a person who gives a legacy or makes a bequest
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Legco
the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
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legend
a popular story handed down from earlier times whose truth has not been ascertained
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Clare Smith
Reason for adoption: Because Kevin is a legend and I love him.
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legendary
of or relating to legend
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legerdemain
cunning deception or trickery
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leges
the plural of lex
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legged
having a leg or legs
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leggie
1 a leg break 2 a bowler of leg breaks
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leggings
an extra outer covering for the lower legs
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leggy
having unusually long legs
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leghorn
a type of Italian wheat straw that is woven into hats
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legible
(of handwriting, print, etc) able to be read or deciphered
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legion
a military unit of the ancient Roman army made up of infantry with supporting cavalry, numbering some three to six thousand men
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legionary
of or relating to a legion
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Jasper Oorthuys
Reason for adoption: Personal interest
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legionella
any Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium of the genus Legionella, including L. pneumophila, which causes legionnaire's disease
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legionnaire
a member of certain military forces or associations, such as the French Foreign Legion or the British Legion
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legislate
to make or pass laws
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legislation
the act or process of making laws; enactment
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legislative
of or relating to legislation
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legislator
a person concerned with the making or enactment of laws
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legislatorial
of or relating to a legislator or legislature
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legislature
a body of persons vested with power to make, amend, and repeal laws
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legist
a person versed in the law
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legit
legitimate or professionally respectable drama
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legitimate
born in lawful wedlock; enjoying full filial rights
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legitimist
a monarchist who supports the rule of a legitimate dynasty or of its senior branch
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legitimize
to make legitimate; legalize
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legless
without legs
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legman
a newsman who reports on news stories from the scene of action or original source
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Legnica
an industrial town in SW Poland. Pop: 109 335 (1999 est)
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Lego
a construction toy consisting of plastic bricks and other standardized components that fit together with studs
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Cameron Shaw
Reason for adoption: Cause I love Lego!!!
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legroom
room to move one's legs comfortably, as in a car
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leguaan
a large amphibious monitor lizard of the genus Varanus, esp V. niloticus (the water leguaan), which can grow up to 2 or 3 m
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legume
the long dry dehiscent fruit produced by leguminous plants; a pod
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legumin
a protein obtained mainly from the seeds of leguminous plants
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leguminous
of, relating to, or belonging to the Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae), a family of flowering plants having pods (or legumes) as fruits and root nodules enabling storage of nitrogen-rich material: includes peas, beans, clover, gorse, acacia, and carob
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legwarmer
one of a pair of garments resembling stockings without feet, usually knitted and brightly coloured, often worn over jeans, tights, etc or during exercise
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legwork
work that involves travelling on foot or as if on foot
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lehaim
a variant spelling of lechaim
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lehr
a long tunnel-shaped oven used for annealing glass
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lei
(in Hawaii) a garland of flowers, worn around the neck
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Leibnizian
of or relating to Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibnitz, the German rationalist philosopher and mathematician (1646--1716)
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Leicester
a city in central England, in Leicester unitary authority, on the River Soar: administrative centre of Leicestershire: Roman remains and a ruined Norman castle; two universities (1957, 1992); light engineering, hosiery, and footwear industries. Pop: 283 900 (2003 est)
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Leicestershire
a county of central England: absorbed the small historical county of Rutland in 1974; Rutland and Leicester city became independent unitary authorities in 1997: largely agricultural. Administrative centre: Leicester. Pop (excluding Leicester city): 619 200 (2003 est). Area (excluding Leicester city): 2084 sq km (804 sq miles)
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Leics
Leicestershire
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Leiden
a city in the W Netherlands, in South Holland province: residence of the Pilgrim Fathers for 11 years before they sailed for America in 1620; university (1575). Pop: 118 000 (2003 est)
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Leigh
a town in NW England, in Wigan unitary authority, Greater Manchester: engineering industries. Pop: 43 006 (2001)
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Leinster
a province of E and SE Republic of Ireland: it consists of the counties of Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow. Pop: 2 105 579 (2002). Area: 19 632 sq km (7580 sq miles)
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Leipzig
a city in E central Germany, in Saxony: famous fairs, begun about 1170; publishing and music centre; university (1409); scene of a decisive defeat for Napoleon Bonaparte in 1813. Pop: 497 531 (2003 est)
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Leiria
a city in central Portugal: site of the first printing press in Portugal (1466). Pop: 119 870 (2001)
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leishmania
any parasitic flagellate protozoan of the genus Leishmania: infects humans and animals and causes diseases ranging from skin lesions to potentially fatal organ damage
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leishmaniasis
any disease, such as kala-azar, caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania
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leister
a spear with three or more prongs for spearing fish, esp salmon
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leisure
time or opportunity for ease, relaxation, etc
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leisured
having much leisure, as through unearned wealth
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leisurely
unhurried; relaxed
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Leith
a port in SE Scotland, on the Firth of Forth: part of Edinburgh since 1920
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leitmotif
a recurring short melodic phrase or theme used, esp in Wagnerian music dramas, to suggest a character, thing, etc
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Leitrim
a county of N Republic of Ireland in Connacht province, on Donegal Bay: agricultural. County town: Carrick-on-Shannon. Pop: 25 799 (2002). Area: 1525 sq km (589 sq miles)
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Leix
another name for Laois
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lek
a small area in which birds of certain species, notably the black grouse, gather for sexual display and courtship
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lekgotla
a meeting place for village assemblies, court cases, and meetings of village leaders
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lekker
pleasing or enjoyable
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LEM
lunar excursion module
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leman
a beloved; sweetheart
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Lemberg
the German name for Lviv
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lemma
a subsidiary proposition, proved for use in the proof of another proposition
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lemmatize
to group together the inflected forms of (a word) for analysis as a single item
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lemming
any of various volelike rodents of the genus Lemmus and related genera, of northern and arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America: family Cricetidae. The Scandinavian variety, Lemmus lemmus, migrates periodically when its population reaches a peak
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Lemnian
of or relating to the Greek island of Lemnos or its inhabitants
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lemniscate
a closed plane curve consisting of two symmetrical loops meeting at a node. Equation: (x2 + y2)2 = a2(x2 -- y2), where a is the greatest distance from the curve to the origin. The symbol for infinity () is an example
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lemniscus
a technical name for fillet
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Lemnos
a Greek island in the N Aegean Sea: famous for its medicinal earth (Lemnian seal). Chief town: Kastron. Pop: 18 104 (2001). Area: 477 sq km (184 sq miles)
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lemon
a small Asian evergreen tree, Citrus limon, widely cultivated in warm and tropical regions, having pale green glossy leaves and edible fruits
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lemonade
a drink made from lemon juice, sugar, and water or from carbonated water, citric acid, etc
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lemonwood
a small tree, Pittosporum eugenioides, of New Zealand having a white bark and lemon-scented flowers
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lemony
having or resembling the taste or colour of a lemon
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lempira
the standard monetary unit of Honduras, divided into 100 centavos
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lemur
any Madagascan prosimian primate of the family Lemuridae, such as Lemur catta (the ring-tailed lemur). They are typically arboreal, having foxy faces and long tails
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lemures
the spirits of the dead
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lemuroid
of, relating to, or belonging to the superfamily Lemuroidea, which includes the lemurs and indrises
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Lena
a river in Russia, rising in S Siberia and flowing generally north through the Sakha Republic to the Laptev Sea by an extensive delta: the longest river in Russia. Length: 4271 km (2653 miles)
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lend
to permit the use of (something) with the expectation of return of the same or an equivalent
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lend-lease
(during World War II) the system organized by the US in 1941 by which equipment and services were provided for countries fighting Germany
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length
the linear extent or measurement of something from end to end, usually being the longest dimension or, for something fixed, the longest horizontal dimension
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lengthen
to make or become longer
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lengthman
a person whose job it is to maintain a particular length of road or railway line
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lengthways
in, according to, or along the direction of length
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lengthy
of relatively great or tiresome extent or duration
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lenient
showing or characterized by mercy or tolerance
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Leninabad
the former name (1937--91) of Khojent
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Leninakan
the former name (1925--91) of Kumayri
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Leningrad
the former name (1937--91) of Saint Petersburg
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Leninism
the political and economic theories of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (original surname Ulyanov; 1870--1924) the Russian statesman and Marxist theoretician
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lenis
(of a consonant) articulated with weak muscular tension
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lenitive
soothing or alleviating pain or distress
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lenity
the state or quality of being lenient
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leno
(in textiles) a weave in which the warp yarns are twisted together in pairs between the weft or filling yarns
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lens
a piece of glass or other transparent material, used to converge or diverge transmitted light and form optical images
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lent
the past tense and past participle of lend
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lentamente
to be played slowly
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lenten
of or relating to Lent
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lentic
of, relating to, or inhabiting still water
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lenticel
any of numerous pores in the stem of a woody plant allowing exchange of gases between the plant and the exterior
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lenticle
a lens-shaped layer of mineral or rock embedded in a matrix of different constitution
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lenticular
shaped like a biconvex lens
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Judith Willcox
Reason for adoption: it has nothing to do with lentils
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lentiginose
A derivative of lentigo
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lentiginous
A derivative of lentigo
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lentigo
a technical name for a freckle
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lentil
a small annual leguminous plant, Lens culinaris, of the Mediterranean region and W Asia, having edible brownish convex seeds
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lentissimo
to be played very slowly
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lentivirus
any of a group of slowly acting viruses that includes the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS
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lento
to be performed slowly
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Leo
a name for a lion, used in children's tales, fables, etc
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Leoben
a city in E central Austria, in Styria on the Mur River: lignite mining. Pop: 25 804 (2001)
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León
a region and former kingdom of NW Spain, which united with Castile in 1230
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Leonardesque
of,relating to, or in the style of Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian painter, sculptor, architect, and engineer (1452--1519)
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leone
the standard monetary unit of Sierra Leone, divided into 100 cents
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Leonid
any member of a meteor shower that is usually insignificant, but more spectacular every 33 years, and occurs annually in mid-November, appearing to radiate from a point in the constellation Leo
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leonine
of, characteristic of, or resembling a lion
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leontopodium
any plant of the Eurasian alpine genus Leontopodium, esp L. alpinum
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leopard
a large feline mammal, Panthera pardus, of forests of Africa and Asia, usually having a tawny yellow coat with black rosette-like spots
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leopard's-bane
any of several Eurasian perennial plants of the genus Doronicum, esp D. plantagineum, having clusters of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)
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Léopoldville
the former name (until 1966) of Kinshasa
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leotard
a tight-fitting garment covering the body from the shoulders down to the thighs and worn by acrobats, ballet dancers, etc
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Lepanto
a port in W Greece, between the Gulfs of Corinth and Patras: scene of a naval battle (1571) in which the Turkish fleet was defeated by the fleets of the Holy League. Pop: 8170 (latest est)
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Lepaya
a variant spelling of Liepaja
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Lepcha
a member of a Mongoloid people of Sikkim
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leper
a person who has leprosy
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lepido-
scale or scaly
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lepidolite
a lilac, pink, or greyish mica consisting of a hydrous silicate of lithium, potassium, aluminium, and fluorine, containing rubidium as an impurity: a source of lithium and rubidium. Formula: K2Li3Al4Si7O21(OH,F)3
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lepidopteran
any of numerous insects of the order Lepidoptera, typically having two pairs of wings covered with fragile scales, mouthparts specialized as a suctorial proboscis, and caterpillars as larvae: comprises the butterflies and moths
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lepidopterist
a person who studies or collects moths and butterflies
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lepidosiren
a South American lungfish, Lepidosiren paradoxa, having an eel-shaped body and whiplike paired fins
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lepidote
covered with scales, scaly leaves, or spots
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leporid
of, relating to, or belonging to the Leporidae, a family of lagomorph mammals having long ears and limbs and a short tail: includes rabbits and hares
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leporine
of, relating to, or resembling a hare
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LEPRA
Leprosy Relief Association
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leprechaun
(in Irish folklore) a mischievous elf, often believed to have a treasure hoard
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leprosarium
a hospital or other centre for the treatment or care of lepers
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leprose
having or denoting a whitish scurfy surface
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leprosy
a chronic infectious disease occurring mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, characterized by the formation of painful inflamed nodules beneath the skin and disfigurement and wasting of affected parts, caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae
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leprous
having leprosy
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leptin
a protein, produced by fat cells in the body, that acts on the brain to regulate the amount of additional fat laid down in the body
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lepto-
fine, slender, or slight
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leptocephalic
having a narrow skull
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leptocephalus
the slender transparent oceanic larva of eels of the genus Anguilla that migrates from its hatching ground in the Caribbean to European freshwater habitats
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leptocercal
having a long thin tail
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leptodactylous
having slender digits
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leptokurtic
(of a distribution) having kurtosis B2 greater than 3, more heavily concentrated about the mean than a normal distribution
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lepton
a former Greek monetary unit worth one hundredth of a drachma
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leptophyllous
(of plants) having long slender leaves
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leptorrhine
another word for catarrhine
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leptosome
a person with a small bodily frame and a slender physique
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leptospirosis
any of several infectious diseases caused by spirochaete bacteria of the genus Leptospira, transmitted to man by animals and characterized by jaundice, meningitis, and kidney failure
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leptosporangiate
(of ferns) having each sporangium developing from a single cell, rather than from a group, and normally with specialized explosive spore dispersal
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leptotene
the first stage of the prophase of meiosis during which the nuclear material becomes resolved into slender single-stranded chromosomes
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Lepus
a small constellation in the S hemisphere lying between Orion and Columba
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lequear
another name for lacunar
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Lérida
a city in NE Spain, in Catalonia: commercial centre of an agricultural region. Pop: 118 035 (2003 est)
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Lerwick
a town in Shetland, administrative centre of the island authority of Shetland, on the island of Mainland: the most northerly town in the British Isles; knitwear, oil refining. Pop: 6830 (2001)
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lesbian
a female homosexual
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Steve Jackson
Reason for adoption: 30th birthday present
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Lesbos
an island in the E Aegean, off the NW coast of Turkey: a centre of lyric poetry, led by Alcaeus and Sappho (6th century bc); annexed to Greece in 1913. Chief town: Mytilene. Pop: 90 642 (2001). Area: 1630 sq km (630 sq miles)
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lese-majesty
any of various offences committed against the sovereign power in a state; treason
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lesion
any structural change in a bodily part resulting from injury or disease
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Lesotho
a kingdom in southern Africa, forming an enclave in the Republic of South Africa: annexed to British Cape Colony in 1871; made a protectorate in 1884; gained independence in 1966; a member of the Commonwealth. It is generally mountainous, with temperate grasslands throughout. Languages: Sesotho and English. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: loti and South African rand. Capital: Maseru. Pop: 1 800 000 (2004 est). Area: 30 344 sq km (11 716 sq miles)
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less
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)
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lessee
a person to whom a lease is granted; a tenant under a lease
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lessen
to make or become less
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lesser
not as great in quantity, size, or worth
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lesson
a unit, or single period of instruction in a subject; class
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lessor
a person who grants a lease of property
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lest
so as to prevent any possibility that
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Lésvos
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for Lesbos
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let
to permit; allow
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let's
let us: used to express a suggestion, command, etc, by the speaker to himself and his hearers
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letch
a variant spelling of lech
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Letchworth
a town in SE England, in N Hertfordshire: the first garden city in Great Britain (founded in 1903). Pop: 32 932 (2001)
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lethal
able to cause or causing death
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lethargy
sluggishness, slowness, or dullness
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Lethbridge
a city in Canada, in S Alberta: coal-mining. Pop: 67 374 (2001)
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Lethe
a river in Hades that caused forgetfulness in those who drank its waters
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Leto
the mother by Zeus of Apollo and Artemis
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LETS
Local Exchange and Trading System: an economic system in which members of a community exchange goods and services using a cashless local currency
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Lett
another name for a Latvian
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letter
any of a set of conventional symbols used in writing or printing a language, each symbol being associated with a group of phonetic values in the language; character of the alphabet
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letter-high
another term for type-high
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letter-perfect
another term (esp in the US) for word-perfect
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letterboxing
a method of formatting film that enables all of a wide-screen film to be transmitted on a television screen, resulting in a blank strip of screen above and below the picture
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lettered
well educated in literature, the arts, etc
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letterhead
a sheet of paper printed with one's address, name, etc, for writing a letter on
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lettering
the act, art, or technique of inscribing letters on to something
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letterpress
a method of printing in which ink is transferred from raised surfaces to paper by pressure; relief printing
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letters
literary knowledge, ability, or learning
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Mark Wills
Reason for adoption: In recognition of the achievements of the Transforming Letters team
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letterset
a method of rotary printing in which ink is transferred from raised surfaces to paper via a rubber-covered cylinder
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Lettish
another word for Latvian
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lettuce
any of various plants of the genus Lactuca, esp L. sativa, which is cultivated in many varieties for its large edible leaves: family Asteraceae (composites)
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leu
the standard monetary unit of Romania and Moldova, divided into 100 bani
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Leucas
a variant spelling of Leukas
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leucine
an essential amino acid found in many proteins
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leucite
a grey or white mineral consisting of potassium aluminium silicate: a source of potash for fertilizers and of aluminium. Formula: KAlSi2O6
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leuco-
white or lacking colour
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leucoblast
an immature leucocyte
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leucocratic
(of igneous rocks) light-coloured because of a low content of ferromagnesian minerals
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leucocyte
any of the various large unpigmented cells in the blood of vertebrates
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leucocytosis
a gross increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood, usually as a response to an infection
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leucodepleted
of or denoting blood from which the white cells have been removed
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leucoderma
any area of skin that is white from congenital albinism or acquired absence or loss of melanin pigmentation
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leucoma
a white opaque scar of the cornea
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leucomaine
any of a group of toxic amines produced during animal metabolism
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leucopenia
an abnormal reduction in the number of white blood cells in the blood, characteristic of certain diseases
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leucoplast
any of the small colourless bodies occurring in the cytoplasm of plant cells and used for storing food material, esp starch
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leucopoiesis
formation of leucocytes in the body
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leucorrhoea
a white or yellowish discharge of mucous material from the vagina, often an indication of infection
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leucotomy
the surgical operation of cutting some of the nerve fibres in the frontal lobes of the brain for treating intractable mental disorders
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Leuctra
an ancient town in Greece southwest of Thebes in Boeotia: site of a victory of Thebes over Sparta (371bc), which marked the end of Spartan military supremacy in Greece
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leukaemia
an acute or chronic disease characterized by a gross proliferation of leucocytes, which crowd into the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, etc, and suppress the blood-forming apparatus
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Leukas
another name for Levkás
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leuko-
a variant of leuco-
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leukotriene
one of a class of products of metabolic conversion of arachidonic acid; the active constituents of slow-reacting substance, responsible for bronchial constriction, contraction of smooth muscle, and inflammatory processes
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Leuven
the Flemish name for Louvain
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lev
the standard monetary unit of Bulgaria, divided into 100 stotinki
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Lev.
Leviticus
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Levalloisian
of or relating to a Lower Palaeolithic culture in W Europe, characterized by a method of flaking flint tools so that one side of the core is flat and the other domed
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levant
a type of leather made from the skins of goats, sheep, or seals, having a pattern of irregular creases
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levanter
an easterly wind in the W Mediterranean area, esp in the late summer
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levantine
a cloth of twilled silk
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levator
any of various muscles that raise a part of the body
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levee
an embankment alongside a river, produced naturally by sedimentation or constructed by man to prevent flooding
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level
on a horizontal plane
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level-headed
even-tempered, balanced, and reliable; steady
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leveller
a person or thing that levels
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Levellers
a radical group on the Parliamentarian side during the Civil War that advocated republicanism, freedom of worship, etc
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Leven
a lake in E central Scotland: one of the shallowest of Scottish lochs, with seven islands, on one of which Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned (1567--8). Length: 6 km (3.7 miles). Width: 4 km (2.5 miles)
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lever
a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum, used to transfer a force to a load and usually to provide a mechanical advantage
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leverage
the action of a lever
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leveret
a young hare, esp one less than one year old
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Leverkusen
a town in NW Germany, in North Rhine-Westphalia on the Rhine: chemical industries. Pop: 161 543 (2003 est)
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Levi
the third son of Jacob and Leah and the ancestor of the tribe of Levi (Genesis 29:34)
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Levi's
jeans, usually blue and made of denim
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leviable
(of taxes, tariffs, etc) liable to be levied
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leviathan
a monstrous beast, esp a sea monster
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levigate
to grind into a fine powder or a smooth paste
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levin
an archaic word for lightning
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levirate
the practice, required by Old Testament law, of marrying the widow of one's brother
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levitate
to rise or cause to rise and float in the air, without visible agency, attributed, esp formerly, to supernatural causes
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Levite
a member of the priestly tribe of Levi
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Levitical
of or relating to the Levites
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Leviticus
the third book of the Old Testament, containing Levitical law and ritual precepts
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levity
inappropriate lack of seriousness
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Levkás
a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, in the Ionian Islands. Pop: 20 751 (2001). Area: 295 sq km (114 sq miles)
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Levkosia
the Greek name for Nicosia
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levo-
a US variant of laevo-
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levodopa
another name for L-dopa
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levy
to impose and collect (a tax, tariff, fine, etc)
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lewd
characterized by or intended to excite crude sexual desire; obscene
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Lewes
a market town in S England, administrative centre of East Sussex, on the River Ouse: site of a battle (1264) in which Henry III was defeated by Simon de Montfort. Pop: 15 988 (2001)
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lewis
a lifting device for heavy stone or concrete blocks consisting of a number of curved pieces of metal or wedges fitting into a dovetailed recess cut into the block
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Lewisham
a borough of S Greater London, on the River Thames. Pop: 248 300 (2003 est). Area: 35 sq km (13 sq miles)
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lewisite
a colourless oily poisonous liquid with an odour resembling that of geraniums, having a powerful vesicant action and used as a war gas; 1-chloro-2-dichloroarsinoethene. Formula: ClCH:CHAsCl2
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lex
a system or body of laws
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lexeme
a minimal meaningful unit of language, the meaning of which cannot be understood from that of its component morphemes. Take off (in the senses to mimic, to become airborne, etc) is a lexeme, as well as the independent morphemes take and off
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lexical
of or relating to items of vocabulary in a language
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lexicalize
to form (a word or lexeme) or (of a word or lexeme) to be formed from constituent morphemes, words, or lexemes, as to form cannot from can and not
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lexicog.
lexicographical
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lexicography
the process or profession of writing or compiling dictionaries
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lexicology
the study of the overall structure and history of the vocabulary of a language
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lexicon
a dictionary, esp one of an ancient language such as Greek or Hebrew
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lexicostatistics
the statistical study of the vocabulary of a language, with special attention to the historical links with other languages
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lexigram
a figure or symbol that represents a word
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lexigraphy
a system of writing in which each word is represented by a sign
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Lexington
a city in NE central Kentucky, in the bluegrass region: major centre for horse-breeding. Pop (including Fayette): 266 798 (2003 est)
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lexis
the totality of vocabulary items in a language, including all forms having lexical meaning or grammatical function
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ley
arable land put down to grass; grassland or pastureland
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Leyden
a variant spelling of Leiden
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leylandii
other names for Leyland cypress
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Leyte
an island in the central Philippines, in the Visayan Islands. Chief town: Tacloban. Pop: 1 362 050 (1990). Area: 7215 sq km (2786 sq miles)
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lezzie
a lesbian
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LF
low frequency
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LG
Low German
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lg.
large
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LGBT
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
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lgth
length
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LGV
large goods vehicle
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lh
left hand
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LH-RH
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
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Lhasa
a city in SW China, capital of Tibet AR, at an altitude of 3606 m (11 830 ft): for centuries the sacred city of Lamaism and residence of the Dalai Lamas from the 17th century until 1950; known as the Forbidden City because it was closed to Westerners until the beginning of the 20th century; annexed by China in 1951. The Dalai Lama fled after an unsuccessful revolt against Chinese rule in 1959. Pop: 131 000 (2005 est)
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lhd
left-hand drive
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li
a Chinese unit of length, approximately equal to 590 yards
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liabilities
business obligations incurred but not discharged and entered as claims on the assets shown on the balance sheet
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liability
the state of being liable
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liable
legally obliged or responsible; answerable
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liaise
to communicate and maintain contact (with)
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liaison
communication and contact between groups or units
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Liákoura
transliteration of the Modern Greek name for (Mount) Parnassus
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liana
any of various woody climbing plants mainly of tropical forests
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Lianyungang
a city in E China, near the coast of Jiangsu. Pop: 645 000 (2005 est)
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Liao
a river in NE China, rising in SE Inner Mongolia and flowing northeast then southwest to the Gulf of Liaodong. Length: about 1100 km (700 miles)
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Liaoning
a province of NE China, in S Manchuria. Capital: Shenyang. Pop: 42 100 000 (2003 est). Area: 150 000 sq km (58 500 sq miles)
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Liaoyang
a city in NE China, in S Manchuria, in Liaoning province: a regional capital in the early dynasties. Pop: 752 000 (2005 est)
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liar
a person who has lied or lies repeatedly
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liard
a former small coin of various European countries
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Lias
the lowest series of rocks of the Jurassic system
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liatris
See blazing star
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lib
short for liberation
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lib.
librarian
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libation
the pouring out of wine, etc, in honour of a deity
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Libau
the German name for Liepaja
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Libava
transliteration of the Russian name for Liepaja
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libeccio
a strong westerly or southwesterly wind blowing onto the W coast of Corsica
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libel
the publication of defamatory matter in permanent form, as by a written or printed statement, picture, etc
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libellant
a party who brings an action in the ecclesiastical courts by presenting a libel
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libellee
a person against whom a libel has been filed in an ecclesiastical court
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liber
a rare name for phloem
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liberal
relating to or having social and political views that favour progress and reform
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liberalism
liberal opinions, practices, or politics
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liberality
generosity; bounty
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liberalize
to make or become liberal
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liberate
to give liberty to; make free
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liberated
given liberty; freed; released
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Ms Sheila McKeand
Reason for adoption: Jean is retiring soon and will be abble to enjoy her own liberation from work
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liberation
a liberating or being liberated
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Jon Harvey
Reason for adoption: Because Mikki & Pete make the word liberation come to life in all that they do!
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Liberec
a city in the N Czech Republic, on the Neisse River: a centre of the German Sudeten movement in 1938. Pop: 97 000 (2005 est)
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Liberia
a republic in W Africa, on the Atlantic: originated in 1822 as a home for freed Afro-American slaves, with land purchased by the American Colonization Society; republic declared in 1847; exports are predominantly rubber and iron ore. Official language: English. Religion: Christian majority, also animist. Currency: dollar. Capital: Monrovia. Pop: 3 487 000 (2004 est). Area: 111 400 sq km (43 000 sq miles)
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Liberian
of or relating to Liberia or its inhabitants
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libero
another name for sweeper
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libertarian
a believer in freedom of thought, expression, etc
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liberticide
a destroyer of freedom
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libertine
a morally dissolute person
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liberty
the power of choosing, thinking, and acting for oneself; freedom from control or restriction
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Libia
the Italian name for Libya
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libidinous
characterized by excessive sexual desire
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libido
psychic energy emanating from the id
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LIBOR
London Inter-Bank Offer Rate: the standard rate of interest for loans between financial institutions
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libra
an ancient Roman unit of weight corresponding to 1 pound, but equal to about 12 ounces
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librarian
a person in charge of or assisting in a library
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Carol Piggott
Reason for adoption: Linda is a librarian
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librarianship
the professional administration of library resources and services
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library
a room or set of rooms where books and other literary materials are kept
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librate
to oscillate or waver
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libration
the act or an instance of oscillating
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librettist
the author of a libretto
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libretto
a text written for and set to music in an opera, etc
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Libreville
the capital of Gabon, in the west on the estuary of the Gabon River: founded as a French trading post in 1843 and expanded with the settlement of freed slaves in 1848. Pop: 649 000 (2005 est)
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libriform
(of a fibre of woody tissue) elongated and having a pitted thickened cell wall
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Librium
a brand of the drug chlordiazepoxide
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Libya
a republic in N Africa, on the Mediterranean: became an Italian colony in 1912; divided after World War II into Tripolitania and Cyrenaica (under British administration) and Fezzan (under French); gained independence in 1951; monarchy overthrown by a military junta in 1969. It consists almost wholly of desert and is a major exporter of oil. Official language: Arabic. Official religion: (Sunni) Muslim. Currency: Libyan dinar. Capital: Tripoli. Pop: 5 659 000 (2004 est). Area: 1 760 000 sq km (680 000 sq miles)
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Libyan
of or relating to Libya, its people, or its language
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lice
the plural of louse
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licence
a certificate, tag, document, etc, giving official permission to do something
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license
to grant or give a licence for (something, such as the sale of alcohol)
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licensee
a person who holds a licence, esp one to sell alcoholic drink
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licentiate
a person who has received a formal attestation of professional competence to practise a certain profession or teach a certain skill or subject
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licentious
sexually unrestrained or promiscuous
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lichee
a variant spelling of litchi
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lichen
an organism that is formed by the symbiotic association of a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium and occurs as crusty patches or bushy growths on tree trunks, bare ground, etc Lichens are now classified as a phylum of fungi (Mycophycophyta)
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lichenin
a complex polysaccharide occurring in certain species of mosses
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lichenology
the study of the structure, physiology, and ecology of lichens
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Lichfield
a city in central England, in SE Staffordshire: cathedral with three spires (13th-14th century); birthplace of Samuel Johnson, during whose lifetime the Lichfield Group (a literary circle) flourished. Pop: 28 435 (2001)
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lichi
a variant spelling of litchi
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licht
a Scot word for light
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licit
a less common word for lawful
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licitly
A derivative of licit
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lick
to pass the tongue over, esp in order to taste or consume
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mrs Emily Evans
Reason for adoption: It embodies... oh, sod it. We thought it was funny.
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lick-alike
very similar
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lickerish
lecherous or lustful
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lickety-split
very quickly; speedily
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Miss Gemma Rule
Reason for adoption: Because "awesome" was taken, so I chose a word that is awesome instead!
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licking
a beating
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lickspittle
a flattering or servile person
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licorice
the usual US and Canadian spelling of liquorice
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lictor
one of a group of ancient Roman officials, usually bearing fasces, who attended magistrates, etc
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lid
a cover, usually removable or hinged, for a receptacle
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Lidice
a mining village in the Czech Republic: destroyed by the Germans in 1942 in reprisal for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich; rebuilt as a national memorial
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lidless
having no lid or top
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lido
a public place of recreation, including a pool for swimming or water sports
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lidocaine
a powerful local anaesthetic administered by injection, or topically to mucous membranes. Formula: C14H22N2O.HCl.H2O
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lie
to speak untruthfully with intent to mislead or deceive
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Liebfraumilch
a white table wine from the Rhine vineyards
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Liechtenstein
a small mountainous principality in central Europe on the Rhine: formed in 1719 by the uniting of the lordships of Schellenburg and Vaduz, which had been purchased by the Austrian family of Liechtenstein; customs union formed with Switzerland in 1924. Official language: German. Religion: Roman Catholic majority. Currency: Swiss franc. Capital: Vaduz. Pop: 34 000 (2003 est). Area: 160 sq km (62 sq miles)
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Liechtensteiner
a native or inhabitant of Liechtenstein
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lied
any of various musical settings for solo voice and piano of a romantic or lyrical poem, for which composers such as Schubert, Schumann, and Wolf are famous
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lief
gladly; willingly
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liege
(of a lord) owed feudal allegiance (esp in the phrase liege lord)
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liegeman
(formerly) the subject of a sovereign or feudal lord; vassal
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Liegnitz
the German name for Legnica
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lien
a right to retain possession of another's property pending discharge of a debt
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lienal
of or relating to the spleen
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lientery
the passage of undigested food in the faeces
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Liep
a port in W Latvia on the Baltic Sea; founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1263: a naval and industrial centre, with a fishing fleet. Pop: 86 985 (2002 est)
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lierne
a short secondary rib that connects the intersections of the primary ribs, esp as used in Gothic vaulting
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Liestal
a city in NW Switzerland, capital of Basel-Land demicanton. Pop: 12 930 (2000)
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Lietuva
the Lithuanian name for Lithuania
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lieu
stead; place (esp in the phrases in lieu, in lieu of)
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Lieut
lieutenant
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lieutenant
a military officer holding commissioned rank immediately junior to a captain
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life
the state or quality that distinguishes living beings or organisms from dead ones and from inorganic matter, characterized chiefly by metabolism, growth, and the ability to reproduce and respond to stimuli
Sorry this word has been given a happy home by: Mr Happy Giraffe
Reason for adoption: because we love it and we're full of it!
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life-saver
the saver of a person's life
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life-saving
acting to save a person's life
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life-size
representing actual size
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life-support
of or providing the equipment required to sustain human life in an unnatural environment, such as in space, or in severe illness or disability
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lifeblood
the blood, considered as vital to sustain life
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lifeboat
a boat, propelled by oars or a motor, used for rescuing people at sea, escaping from a sinking ship, etc
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lifeguard
a person present at a beach or pool to guard people against the risk of drowning
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lifehack
any procedure or action that solves a problem, simplifies a task, reduces frustration, etc, in one's everyday life
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lifeless
without life; inanimate; dead
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lifelike
closely resembling or representing life
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lifeline
a line thrown or fired aboard a vessel for hauling in a hawser for a breeches buoy
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lifelong
lasting for or as if for a lifetime
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lifer
a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment
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lifestyle
a set of attitudes, habits, or possessions associated with a particular person or group
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lifestyler
a person who adopts a particular lifestyle
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lifetime
the length of time a person or animal is alive
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Liffey
a river in E Republic of Ireland, rising in the Wicklow Mountains and flowing west, then northeast through Dublin into Dublin Bay. Length: 80 km (50 miles)
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Lifford
the county town of Donegal, Republic of Ireland; market town. Pop: 1395 (2002)
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LIFO
last in, first out (as an accounting principle in sorting stock)
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lift
to rise or cause to rise upwards from the ground or another support to a higher place
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liftboy
a person who operates a lift, esp in large public or commercial buildings and hotels
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liftoff
the initial movement or ascent of a rocket from its launch pad
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lig
(esp in the entertainment industry and the media) a function at which free entertainment and refreshments are available
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ligament
any one of the bands or sheets of tough fibrous connective tissue that restrict movement in joints, connect various bones or cartilages, support muscles, etc
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ligamentous
relating to or shaped like a ligament
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ligan
a variant of lagan
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ligand
an atom, molecule, radical, or ion forming a complex with a central atom
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ligase
any of a class of enzymes that catalyse the formation of covalent bonds and are important in the synthesis and repair of biological molecules, such as DNA
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ligate
to tie up or constrict (something) with a ligature
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ligature
the act of binding or tying up
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liger
the hybrid offspring of a female tiger and a male lion
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light
the medium of illumination that makes sight possible
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light-fast
(of a dye or dyed article) unaffected by light
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light-fingered
having nimble or agile fingers, esp for thieving or picking pockets
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light-footed
having a light or nimble tread
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light-headed
frivolous in disposition or behaviour
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light-hearted
cheerful or carefree in mood or disposition
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light-sensitive
(of a surface) having a photoelectric property, such as the ability to generate a current, change its electrical resistance, etc, when exposed to light
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lighten
to become or make light
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lightening
the sensation, experienced by many women late in pregnancy when the head of the fetus enters the pelvis, of a reduction in pressure on the diaphragm, making it easier to breathe
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lighter
a small portable device for providing a naked flame or red-hot filament to light cigarettes, etc
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lighterage
the conveyance or loading and unloading of cargo by means of a lighter
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lighthouse
a fixed structure in the form of a tower equipped with a light visible to mariners for warning them of obstructions, for marking harbour entrances, etc
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lighting
the act or quality of illumination or ignition
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lightness
the attribute of an object or colour that enables an observer to judge the extent to which the object or colour reflects or transmits incident light
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lightning
a flash of light in the sky, occurring during a thunderstorm and caused by a discharge of electricity, either between clouds or between a cloud and the earth
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lights
a person's ideas, knowledge, or understanding
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lightship
a ship equipped as a lighthouse and moored where a fixed structure would prove impracticable
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lightsome
lighthearted
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lightweight
of a relatively light weight
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lignaloes
another name for eaglewood
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ligneous
of or resembling wood
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ligni-
indicating wood
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lignicolous
growing or living on or in wood
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ligniform
having the appearance of wood
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lignify
to make or become woody as a result of the deposition of lignin in the cell walls
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lignin
a complex polymer occurring in certain plant cell walls making the plant rigid
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lignite
a brown carbonaceous sedimentary rock with woody texture that consists of accumulated layers of partially decomposed vegetation: used as a fuel. Fixed carbon content: 46--60 per cent; calorific value: 1.28 107 to 1.93 107 J/kg (5500 to 8300 Btu/lb)
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