LE -abbr

  1. leading edge

lea ['lē, 'lā] -n

  1. grassland, pasture
  2. arable land used temporarily for hay or grazing
  3. leather

leach ['lēch] -n, adj

(variant of leech)

  1. physician, surgeon
  2. any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usu. freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end
  3. a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain
  4. to bleed by the use of leeches
  5. to drain the substance of : exhaust
  6. to attach oneself to a person as a leech
  7. either vertical edge of a square sail
  8. the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail

leach·ate ['lē-,chāt] -n

  1. a solution or product obtained by leaching

lead ['lēd] -vb

  1. to guide on a way esp. by going in advance
  2. to direct on a course or in a direction
  3. to serve as a channel for
    • a pipe lead s water to the house
  4. to go through : live
    • lead a quiet life
  5. to direct the operations, activity, or performance of
    • lead an orchestra
  6. to have charge of
    • lead a campaign
  7. to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking leading questions
  8. to go at the head of
    • lead a parade
  9. to be first in or among
    • lead the league
  10. to have a margin over
    • led his opponent
  11. to bring to some conclusion or condition
    • led to believe otherwise
  12. to begin play with
    • lead trumps
  13. to aim in front of (a moving object)
    • lead a duck
  14. to pass a ball or puck just in front of (a moving teammate)
  15. to guide someone or something along a way
  16. to lie, run, or open in a specified place or direction
    • path lead s uphill
  17. to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance
  18. to be first
  19. begin, open
  20. to play the first card of a trick, round, or game
  21. to tend toward or have a result
    • study lead ing to a degree
  22. to direct the first of a series of blows at an opponent in boxing
  23. leadership
  24. example, precedent
  25. position at the front : vanguard
  26. initiative
  27. the act or privilege of leading in cards
  28. the card or suit led
  29. a margin or measure of advantage or superiority or position in advance
  30. : one that leads: as
  31. lode
  32. a channel of water esp. through a field of ice
  33. indication, clue
  34. a principal role in a dramatic production
  35. one who plays such a role
  36. leash
  37. an introductory section of a news story
  38. a news story of chief importance
  39. an insulated electrical conductor connected to an electrical device
  40. the course of a rope from end to end
  41. the amount of axial advance of a point accompanying a complete turn of a thread (as of a screw or worm)
  42. a position taken by a base runner off a base toward the next
  43. the first punch of a series or an exchange of punches in boxing
  44. acting or serving as a lead or leader
    • a lead article
  45. a bluish-white soft malleable ductile plastic but inelastic heavy metallic element found mostly in combination and used esp. in pipes, cable sheaths, batteries, solder, and shields against radioactivity
  46. a plummet for sounding at sea
  47. a usu. flat lead roof
  48. lead framing for panes in windows
  49. a thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
  50. a thin stick of marking substance (as graphite) in or for a pencil
  51. white lead
  52. bullets, projectiles
  53. tetraethyl lead
  54. to cover, line, or weight with lead
  55. to fix (window glass) in position with leads
  56. to put space between the lines of (typeset matter)
  57. to treat or mix with lead or a lead compound
    • lead ed gasoline

lead acetate -n

  1. an acetate of lead
  2. a poisonous soluble salt PbC 4H 6O 43H 2O

lead arsenate -n

  1. : an arsenate of lead: as
  2. an acid salt PbHAsO 4used esp. as an insecticide
  3. a neutral salt Pb 3(AsO 4) 2used esp. as an insecticide

lead azide -n

  1. a crystalline explosive compound Pb(N 3) 2used as a detonating agent

lead carbonate -n

  1. a carbonate of lead
  2. a poisonous basic salt Pb 3(OH) 2(CO 3) 2used esp. as a white pigment

lead chromate -n

  1. a chromate of lead
  2. chrome yellow

lead dioxide -n

  1. a poisonous compound PbO 2used esp. as an oxidizing agent and as an electrode in batteries

lead·en ['le-dᵊn] -adj, adv, n

  1. made of lead
  2. of the color of lead : dull gray
  3. oppressively heavy
  4. sluggish
  5. lacking spirit or animation

lead·er ['lē-dər] -n, adj

  1. : something that leads: as
  2. a primary or terminal shoot of a plant
  3. tendon, sinew
  4. dots or hyphens (as in an index) used to lead the eye horizontally : ellipsis
  5. a newspaper editorial
  6. something for guiding fish into a trap
  7. a short length of material for attaching the end of a fishing line to a lure or hook
  8. loss leader
  9. something that ranks first
  10. a blank section at the beginning or end of a reel of film or recorded tape
  11. : a person who leads: as
  12. guide, conductor
  13. a person who directs a military force or unit
  14. a person who has commanding authority or influence
  15. the principal officer of a British political party
  16. a party member chosen to manage party activities in a legislative body
  17. such a party member presiding over the whole legislative body when the party constitutes a majority
  18. conductor
  19. a first or principal performer of a group
  20. a horse placed in advance of the other horses of a team

lead·er·board [-,bȯrd] -n

  1. a large board for displaying the ranking of the leaders in a competitive event (as a golf tournament)

leader of the opposition

  1. the principal member of the opposition party in a British legislative body who is given the status of a salaried government official and an important role in organizing the business of the house

lead·er·ship ['lē-dər-,ship] -n

  1. the office or position of a leader
  2. capacity to lead
  3. the act or an instance of leading
  4. leaders
    • the party leadership

lead glass -n

  1. glass containing a high proportion of lead oxide and having extraordinary clarity and brilliance

leadin ['lēd-,in] -n, adj

  1. something (as a television show or segment) that leads into something else
    • a leadin to the commercial

lead·ing ['lē-diŋ] -adj

  1. coming or ranking first : foremost
  2. exercising leadership
  3. providing direction or guidance
    • a leading question
  4. given most prominent display
    • the leading story

leading edge ['lē-diŋ-] -n, adj

  1. the forward part of something that moves or seems to move
  2. the foremost edge of an airfoil
  3. cutting edge

leading lady -n

  1. an actress who plays the leading female role

leading light -n

  1. a prominent and influential member (as of a community or church)

leading man -n

  1. an actor who plays the leading male role

leading tone -n

  1. the seventh tone of a major or minor scale called also leading note

lead line ['led-] -n

  1. sounding line

lead·man ['lēd-,man, -mən] -n

  1. a worker in charge of other workers

lead monoxide -n

  1. a yellow to brownish-red poisonous compound PbO used in rubber manufacture and glassmaking

lead·off ['lēd-,ȯf] -n, adj

  1. a beginning or leading action
  2. one that leads off

lead off ['lēd-] -vi

  1. begin
  2. to come on or perform first
  3. to make a start on : open
  4. to bat first for a baseball team in (an inning)

lead on -vt

  1. to entice or induce to adopt or continue in a course or belief esp. when unwise or mistaken

lead oxide -n

  1. any of several oxides of lead
  2. lead monoxide

lead pencil ['led-] -n

  1. a pencil using graphite as the marking material

leadpipe ['led-'pīp] -adj

  1. certain, guaranteed
    • a leadpipe cinch

lead·plant ['led-,plant] -n

  1. a leguminous shrub ( Amorpha canescens) of the western U.S. that has hoary pinnate leaves and bears dull-colored racemose flowers

lead poisoning -n

  1. chronic intoxication that is produced by the absorption of lead into the system and is characterized esp. by fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, anemia, a dark line along the gums, and muscular paralysis or weakness of limbs

lead·screw ['lēd-,skrü] -n

  1. a threaded rod on which a mechanism travels and can be positioned precisely

leads·man ['ledz-mən] -n

  1. a man who uses a sounding lead to determine depth of water

lead sulfide -n

  1. an insoluble black compound PbS that occurs naturally as galena and is used in photoconductive cells

lead time ['lēd-] -n

  1. the time between the beginning of a process or project and the appearance of its results

leadup ['lēd-,əp] -n

  1. something that leads up to or prepares the way for something else

lead up ['lēd-] -vi

  1. to prepare the way
  2. to make a gradual or indirect approach to a topic

lead·work ['led-,wərk] -n

  1. articles made of or work done in lead

leady ['le-dē] -adj

  1. containing or resembling lead

leaf ['lēf] -n, adj

  1. a lateral outgrowth from a plant stem that is typically a flattened expanded variably shaped greenish organ, constitutes a unit of the foliage, and functions primarily in food manufacture by photosynthesis
  2. a modified leaf (as a bract or sepal) primarily engaged in functions other than food manufacture
  3. foliage
    • trees in full leaf
  4. the leaves of a plant as an article of commerce
  5. : something suggestive of a leaf: as
  6. a part of a book or folded sheet containing a page on each side
  7. a part (as of window shutters, folding doors, or gates) that slides or is hinged
  8. the movable parts of a table top
  9. a thin sheet or plate of any substance : lamina
  10. metal (as gold or silver) in sheets usu. thinner than foil
  11. one of the plates of a leaf spring
  12. to shoot out or produce leaves
    • will leaf out in spring
  13. to turn over pages esp. to browse or skim
    • leaf through a book
  14. to turn over the pages of

leaf·age ['lē-fij] -n

  1. foliage
  2. the representation of leafage (as in architecture)

leaf bud -n

  1. a bud that develops into a leafy shoot and does not produce flowers

leaf butterfly -n

  1. any of a genus ( Kallima) of nymphalid butterflies of southern Asia with wings resembling dried or dead leaves

leaf curl -n

  1. any of numerous plant diseases caused by ascomycetous fungi (genus Taphrinaof the family Taphrinaceae) or viruses (esp. genus Begomovirusof the family Geminiviridae) and characterized by curling of leaves
  2. peach leaf curl

leafcut·ter ['lēf-,kə-tər] -n

  1. any of various chiefly tropical American ants (genus Atta) that cut and carry off the leaves of plants which they use in culturing fungi for food called also leaf-cutting ant

leafed ['lēft] -adj

  1. leaved

leaf fat -n

  1. the fat that lines the abdominal cavity and encloses the kidneys
  2. that of a hog used in the manufacture of lard

leaf·hop·per ['lēf-,hä-pər] -n

  1. any of a family (Cicadellidae) of small leaping homopterous insects that suck the juices of plants

leaf lard -n

  1. high-quality lard made from leaf fat

leaf·let ['lēf-lət] -n

  1. one of the divisions of a compound leaf
  2. a small or young foliage leaf
  3. a leaflike organ or part
  4. a usu. folded printed sheet intended for free distribution

leaflet -vb

  1. to hand out leaflets
  2. to hand out leaflets to

leaf miner -n

  1. any of various small insects (as moths or dipteran flies) that in the larval stages burrow in and eat the parenchyma of leaves

leaf mold -n

  1. a compost or layer composed chiefly of decayed leaves
  2. a mold or mildew that affects foliage

leaf roll -n

  1. any of various plant diseases characterized esp. by an upward rolling of the leaf margins
  2. a disease of the potato caused by a single-stranded RNA virus (species Potato leafroll virusof the genus Polerovirus,family Luteoviridae) transmitted by aphids

leaf roller -n

  1. any of various lepidopterans whose larvae make a nest by rolling up plant leaves

leaf rust -n

  1. a rust disease of plants and esp. of wheat that affects primarily the leaves

leaf scar -n

  1. the mark left on a stem after a leaf falls

leaf scorch -n

  1. any of various plant diseases or conditions characterized by a burned or scorched appearance of the foliage

leaf spot -n

  1. any of various plant diseases characterized by discolored often circular spots on the leaves

leaf spring -n

  1. a spring made of superposed strips or leaves

leaf·stalk ['lēf-,stȯk] -n

  1. petiole

leaf trace -n

  1. a trace associated with a leaf

leafy ['lē-fē] -adj

  1. furnished with or abounding in leaves
    • leafy woodlands
  2. having broad-bladed leaves
    • mosses, grasses, and leafy plants
  3. consisting chiefly of leaves
    • leafy vegetables
  4. resembling a leaf
  5. laminate

leafy liverwort -n

  1. any of an order (Jungermanniales) of usu. epiphytic liverworts with a leafy gametophyte that has one ventral and two dorsal rows of leaves on the stem

leafy spurge -n

  1. a tall perennial Eurasian herb ( Euphorbia esula) naturalized as a weed in the northern U.S. and Canada

league ['lēg] -n

  1. any of various units of distance from about 2.4 to 4.6 statute miles (3.9 to 7.4 kilometers)
  2. a square league
  3. an association of nations or other political entities for a common purpose
  4. an association of persons or groups united by common interests or goals
  5. a group of sports teams that regularly play one another
  6. an informal alliance
    • in league with her sister
  7. class, category
  8. to unite in a league
  9. to form a league

lea·guer ['lē-gər] -n

  1. a military camp
  2. siege

leaguer -vt

  1. besiege, beleaguer

leagu·er ['lē-gər] -n

  1. a member of a league

leak ['lēk] -vb, n

  1. to enter or escape through an opening usu. by a fault or mistake
    • fumes leak in
  2. to let a substance or light in or out through an opening
  3. to become known despite efforts at concealment
    • confidential information leak ed out
  4. to be the source of an information leak
  5. to permit to enter or escape through or as if through a leak
  6. to give out (information) surreptitiously
    • leak ed the story to the press
  7. a crack or hole that usu. by mistake admits or lets escape
  8. something that permits the admission or escape of something else usu. with prejudicial effect
  9. the act, process, or an instance of leaking
  10. an act of urinating used esp. in the phrase take a leak

leak·age ['lē-kij] -n

  1. the act or process or an instance of leaking
  2. loss of electricity esp. due to faulty insulation
  3. something or the amount that leaks

leaky ['lē-kē] -adj, adv, n

  1. permitting fluid to leak in or out

leal ['lēl] -adj, adv

  1. loyal, true

lean ['lēn] -vb

  1. to incline, deviate, or bend from a vertical position
  2. to cast one's weight to one side for support
  3. to rely for support or inspiration
  4. to incline in opinion, taste, or desire
    • lean ing toward a career in chemistry
  5. to cause to lean : incline
  6. the act or an instance of leaning : inclination
  7. lacking or deficient in flesh
  8. containing little or no fat
    • lean meat
  9. lacking richness, sufficiency, or productiveness
    • lean profits
    • the lean years
  10. : deficient in an essential or important quality or ingredient: as
  11. containing little valuable mineral
  12. low in combustible component used esp. of fuel mixtures
  13. characterized by economy (as of style, expression, or operation)
  14. to make lean
  15. the part of meat that consists principally of lean muscle

Le·an·der [lē-'an-dər] -n

  1. a youth in Greek mythology who swims the Hellespont nightly to visit Hero and who ultimately drowns in one of the crossings

leaning -n

  1. a definite but not decisive attraction or tendency often used in pl.
    • radical leaning s

leant ['lēn] -vb

(variant of lean)

  1. to incline, deviate, or bend from a vertical position
  2. to cast one's weight to one side for support
  3. to rely for support or inspiration
  4. to incline in opinion, taste, or desire
    • lean ing toward a career in chemistry
  5. to cause to lean : incline
  6. the act or an instance of leaning : inclination
  7. lacking or deficient in flesh
  8. containing little or no fat
    • lean meat
  9. lacking richness, sufficiency, or productiveness
    • lean profits
    • the lean years
  10. : deficient in an essential or important quality or ingredient: as
  11. containing little valuable mineral
  12. low in combustible component used esp. of fuel mixtures
  13. characterized by economy (as of style, expression, or operation)
  14. to make lean
  15. the part of meat that consists principally of lean muscle

leanto ['lēn-,tü] -n

  1. a wing or extension of a building having a lean-to roof
  2. a rough shed or shelter with a lean-to roof
  3. having only one slope or pitch
    • a leanto roof

leap ['lēp] -vb, n

  1. to spring free from or as if from the ground : jump
    • leap over a fence
    • a fish leap s out of the water
  2. to pass abruptly from one state or topic to another
  3. to act precipitately
    • leap ed at the chance
  4. to pass over by leaping
    • leap ed the wall
  5. an act of leaping : spring, bound
  6. a place leaped over or from
  7. the distance covered by a leap
  8. a sudden passage or transition
    • a great leap forward
  9. a choice made in an area of ultimate concern
    • a leap of faith

leap·frog ['lēp-,frȯg, -,fräg] -n

  1. a game in which one player bends down and is vaulted over by another player

leapfrog -vb

  1. to leap or progress in or as if in leapfrog
  2. to go ahead of (each other) in turn
  3. to advance (two military units) by keeping one unit in action while moving the other unit past it to a position farther in front
  4. to evade by or as if by a bypass

leap second -n

  1. an intercalary second added to Coordinated Universal Time to compensate for the slowing of the earth's rotation and keep Coordinated Universal Time in synchrony with solar time

leap year -n

  1. a year in the Gregorian calendar containing 366 days with February 29 as the extra day
  2. an intercalary year in any calendar

Lear ['lir] -n

  1. a legendary king of Britain and hero of Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear

learn ['lərn] -vb, adj, n

  1. to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience
    • learn a trade
  2. memorize
    • learn the lines of a play
  3. to come to be able
    • learn to dance
  4. to come to realize
    • learn ed that honesty paid
  5. teach
  6. to inform of something
  7. to come to know : hear
    • we just learn ed that he was ill
  8. to acquire knowledge or skill or a behavioral tendency

learned ['lər-nəd-lē] -adj, adv, n

  1. characterized by or associated with learning : erudite
    • a learned scholar
  2. acquired by learning
    • learned behavior

learning -n

  1. the act or experience of one that learns
  2. knowledge or skill acquired by instruction or study
  3. modification of a behavioral tendency by experience (as exposure to conditioning)

learning curve -n

  1. a curve plotting performance against practice
  2. one graphing decline in unit costs with cumulative output
  3. the course of progress made in learning something

learning disability -n, adj

  1. any of various conditions (as dyslexia) that interfere with an individual's ability to learn and so result in impaired functioning in language, reasoning, or academic skills and that are thought to be caused by difficulties in processing and integrating information

learnt ['lərn] -vb, adj, n

(variant of learn)

  1. to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience
    • learn a trade
  2. memorize
    • learn the lines of a play
  3. to come to be able
    • learn to dance
  4. to come to realize
    • learn ed that honesty paid
  5. teach
  6. to inform of something
  7. to come to know : hear
    • we just learn ed that he was ill
  8. to acquire knowledge or skill or a behavioral tendency

leary ['lir-ē] -adj

(variant of leery)

  1. suspicious, wary often used with of
    • leery of strangers

lease ['lēs] -n

  1. a contract by which one conveys real estate, equipment, or facilities for a specified term and for a specified rent
  2. the act of such conveyance or the term for which it is made
  3. a piece of land or property that is leased
  4. a continuance or opportunity for continuance
    • a new lease on life
  5. to grant by lease
  6. to hold under a lease

lease·back ['lēs-,bak] -n

  1. the sale of property with the understanding that the seller can lease it from the new owner

lease·hold ['lēs-,hōld] -n

  1. a tenure by lease
  2. property held by lease

leash ['lēsh] -n, vt

  1. a line for leading or restraining an animal
  2. something that restrains : the state of being restrained
    • keeping spending on a tight leash
  3. a set of three animals (as greyhounds, foxes, bucks, or hares)
  4. a set of three

leash law -n

  1. an ordinance requiring dogs to be restrained when not confined to their owner's property

leas·ing ['lē-siŋ, -ziŋ] -n

  1. the act of lying
  2. lie, falsehood

least ['lēst] -adj

  1. lowest in importance or position
  2. smallest in size or degree
  3. being a member of a kind distinguished by diminutive size
    • the least bittern
  4. smallest possible : slightest
  5. one that is least
  6. in the smallest or lowest degree

least common denominator -n

  1. the least common multiple of two or more denominators

least common multiple -n

  1. the smallest common multiple of two or more numbers
  2. the common multiple of lowest degree of two or more polynomials

least squares -n pl

  1. a method of fitting a curve to a set of points representing statistical data in such a way that the sum of the squares of the distances of the points from the curve is a minimum

least tern -n

  1. a very small black-capped tern ( Sterna antillarum) with a white body and forehead that is found chiefly in coastal areas of eastern No. America and California

least·ways ['lēst-,wāz] -adv

  1. at least

least·wise [-,wīz] -adv

  1. at least
    • leastwise, that's what I heard

leath·er ['le-thər] -n, adj

  1. animal skin dressed for use
  2. the flap of the ear of a dog
  3. something wholly or partly made of leather

leather ['le-thə-riŋ, 'leth-riŋ] -vt

  1. to cover with leather
  2. to beat with a strap : thrash

leath·er·back ['le-thər-,bak] -n

  1. the largest existing sea turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea) distinguished by its flexible carapace composed of a mosaic of small bones embedded in a thick leathery skin

leath·er·ette [,le-thə-'ret] -n

  1. imitation leather

leath·er·leaf ['le-thər-,lēf] -n

  1. a temperate-zone bog shrub ( Chamaedaphne calyculata) of the heath family with leathery evergreen leaves and small white cylindrical flowers

leath·erlunged ['le-thər-,ləŋd] -adj

  1. having an inordinately loud voice
    • leatherlunged singers

leath·ern ['le-thərn] -adj

  1. made of, consisting of, or resembling leather

leath·er·neck [-thər-,nek] -n

  1. a member of the U.S. Marine Corps

leath·er·wood ['le-thər-,wu̇d] -n

  1. a small eastern No. American tree ( Dirca palustris) of the mezereon family with pliant stems and yellow flowers
  2. a small tree or shrub ( Cyrilla racemifloraof the family Cyrillaceae) of the southeastern U.S.

leath·er·work ['le-thər-,wərk] -n

  1. work made of leather : leather articles

leath·ery ['le-thə-rē, 'leth-rē] -adj

  1. resembling, characteristic of, or suggestive of leather
    • a leathery face
    • a leathery aroma

leave ['lēv] -vb, n

  1. bequeath, devise
    • left a fortune to his son
  2. to have remaining after one's death
    • leave s a widow and two children
  3. to cause to remain as a trace or aftereffect
    • oil leave s a stain
    • the wound left an ugly scar
  4. to cause or allow to be or remain in a specified condition
    • leave the door open
    • his manner left me cold
  5. to fail to include or take along
    • left the notes at home
    • the movie leave s a lot out
  6. to have as a remainder
    • 4 from 7 leave s 3
  7. to permit to be or remain subject to another's action or control
    • just leave everything to me
  8. let
  9. to cause or allow to be or remain available
    • leave room for expansion
    • left myself an out
  10. to go away from : depart
    • leave the room
  11. desert, abandon
    • left his wife
  12. to terminate association with : withdraw from
    • left school before graduation
  13. to put, deposit, or deliver before or in the process of departing
    • I left a package for you
    • leave a message
  14. set out, depart
  15. permission to do something
  16. authorized esp. extended absence from duty or employment
  17. an act of leaving : departure
  18. leaf

leaved -adj

  1. having leaves usu. used in combination
    • palmate- leaved
    • a four- leaved clover

leav·en ['le-vən] -n

  1. a substance (as yeast) used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid
  2. sourdough
  3. a material (as baking powder) used to produce a gas that lightens dough or batter
  4. something that modifies or lightens

leaven ['lev-niŋ, 'le-və-] -vt

  1. to raise (as bread) with a leaven
  2. to mingle or permeate with some modifying, alleviating, or vivifying element
  3. lighten
    • a sermon leaven ed with humor

leavening -n

  1. a leavening agent : leaven

leave of absence

  1. permission to be absent from duty or employment
  2. leave

leave off -vb

  1. stop, cease
    • picked up where he had left off

leaves ['lēf] -n, adj

(variant of leaf)

  1. a lateral outgrowth from a plant stem that is typically a flattened expanded variably shaped greenish organ, constitutes a unit of the foliage, and functions primarily in food manufacture by photosynthesis
  2. a modified leaf (as a bract or sepal) primarily engaged in functions other than food manufacture
  3. foliage
    • trees in full leaf
  4. the leaves of a plant as an article of commerce
  5. : something suggestive of a leaf: as
  6. a part of a book or folded sheet containing a page on each side
  7. a part (as of window shutters, folding doors, or gates) that slides or is hinged
  8. the movable parts of a table top
  9. a thin sheet or plate of any substance : lamina
  10. metal (as gold or silver) in sheets usu. thinner than foil
  11. one of the plates of a leaf spring
  12. to shoot out or produce leaves
    • will leaf out in spring
  13. to turn over pages esp. to browse or skim
    • leaf through a book
  14. to turn over the pages of

leavetak·ing ['lēv-,tā-kiŋ] -n

  1. departure, farewell

leav·ings ['lē-viŋz] -n pl

  1. remnants, residue

Leb -abbr

  1. Lebanese; Lebanon

le·bens·raum ['lā-bənz-,rau̇m, -bən(t)s-] -n

  1. territory believed esp. by Nazis to be necessary for national existence or economic self-sufficiency
  2. space required for life, growth, or activity

lech ['lech] -n

  1. letch, lust
  2. lecher
  3. lust

lech·er ['le-chər] -n

  1. a man who engages in lechery

lech·er·ous ['le-chə-rəs, 'lech-rəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. given to or suggestive of lechery

lech·ery [-rē] -n

  1. inordinate indulgence in sexual activity : lasciviousness

le·chwe ['lēch-wē] -n

  1. an antelope ( Kobus leche) that inhabits wetlands of southern Africa
  2. a related antelope ( K. megaceros) of the Nile Valley in Sudan and Ethiopia

lec·i·thin ['le-sə-thən] -n

  1. any of several waxy hygroscopic phospholipids that are widely distributed in animals and plants, form colloidal solutions in water, and have emulsifying, wetting, and antioxidant properties
  2. a mixture of or substance rich in lecithins

lec·i·thin·ase [-thə-,nās, -,nāz] -n

  1. phospholipase

lec·tern ['lek-tərn] -n

  1. a stand used to support a book or script in a convenient position for a standing reader or speaker
  2. one from which scripture lessons are read in a church service

lec·tin ['lek-tən] -n

  1. any of a group of proteins esp. of plants that are not antibodies and do not originate in an immune system but bind specif. to carbohydrate-containing receptors on cell surfaces (as of red blood cells)

lec·tion ['lek-shən] -n

  1. a liturgical reading for a particular day
  2. a variant reading of a text

lec·tion·ary ['lek-shə-,ner-ē] -n

  1. a book or list of lections for the church year

lec·tor ['lek-tər, -,tȯr] -n

  1. a person who assists at a worship service chiefly by reading the lection

lec·to·type ['lek-tə-,tīp] -n

  1. a specimen chosen as the type of a species or subspecies if the author of the name fails to designate a type

lec·ture ['lek-chər, -shər] -n

  1. a discourse given before an audience or class esp. for instruction
  2. a formal reproof

lecture ['lek-chə-riŋ, 'lek-shriŋ] -vb, n

  1. to deliver a lecture or a course of lectures
  2. to deliver a lecture to
  3. to reprove formally

led ['lēd] -vb

(variant of lead)

  1. to guide on a way esp. by going in advance
  2. to direct on a course or in a direction
  3. to serve as a channel for
    • a pipe lead s water to the house
  4. to go through : live
    • lead a quiet life
  5. to direct the operations, activity, or performance of
    • lead an orchestra
  6. to have charge of
    • lead a campaign
  7. to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking leading questions
  8. to go at the head of
    • lead a parade
  9. to be first in or among
    • lead the league
  10. to have a margin over
    • led his opponent
  11. to bring to some conclusion or condition
    • led to believe otherwise
  12. to begin play with
    • lead trumps
  13. to aim in front of (a moving object)
    • lead a duck
  14. to pass a ball or puck just in front of (a moving teammate)
  15. to guide someone or something along a way
  16. to lie, run, or open in a specified place or direction
    • path lead s uphill
  17. to guide a dance partner through the steps of a dance
  18. to be first
  19. begin, open
  20. to play the first card of a trick, round, or game
  21. to tend toward or have a result
    • study lead ing to a degree
  22. to direct the first of a series of blows at an opponent in boxing
  23. leadership
  24. example, precedent
  25. position at the front : vanguard
  26. initiative
  27. the act or privilege of leading in cards
  28. the card or suit led
  29. a margin or measure of advantage or superiority or position in advance
  30. : one that leads: as
  31. lode
  32. a channel of water esp. through a field of ice
  33. indication, clue
  34. a principal role in a dramatic production
  35. one who plays such a role
  36. leash
  37. an introductory section of a news story
  38. a news story of chief importance
  39. an insulated electrical conductor connected to an electrical device
  40. the course of a rope from end to end
  41. the amount of axial advance of a point accompanying a complete turn of a thread (as of a screw or worm)
  42. a position taken by a base runner off a base toward the next
  43. the first punch of a series or an exchange of punches in boxing
  44. acting or serving as a lead or leader
    • a lead article
  45. a bluish-white soft malleable ductile plastic but inelastic heavy metallic element found mostly in combination and used esp. in pipes, cable sheaths, batteries, solder, and shields against radioactivity
  46. a plummet for sounding at sea
  47. a usu. flat lead roof
  48. lead framing for panes in windows
  49. a thin strip of metal used to separate lines of type in printing
  50. a thin stick of marking substance (as graphite) in or for a pencil
  51. white lead
  52. bullets, projectiles
  53. tetraethyl lead
  54. to cover, line, or weight with lead
  55. to fix (window glass) in position with leads
  56. to put space between the lines of (typeset matter)
  57. to treat or mix with lead or a lead compound
    • lead ed gasoline

LED [,el-(,)ē-'dē] -n

  1. a semiconductor diode that emits light when a voltage is applied to it and that is used esp. in electronic devices (as for an indicator light)

Le·da ['lē-də] -n

  1. the mother of Clytemnestra and Castor by her husband Tyndareus and of Helen and Pollux by Zeus who comes to her in the form of a swan

lede ['lēd] -n

  1. the introductory section of a news story that is intended to entice the reader to read the full story

le·der·ho·sen ['lā-dər-,hō-zᵊn] -n pl

  1. leather shorts often with suspenders worn esp. in Bavaria

ledge ['lej] -n, adj

  1. a raised or projecting edge or molding intended to protect or check
    • a window ledge
  2. an underwater ridge or reef esp. near the shore
  3. a narrow flat surface or shelf
  4. one that projects from a wall of rock
  5. rock that is solid or continuous enough to form ledges : bedrock
    • the field was full of ledge
  6. lode, vein

led·ger ['le-jər] -n

  1. a book containing accounts to which debits and credits are posted from books of original entry
  2. a horizontal board used for vertical support (as in scaffolding)

ledger line ['le-jər-] -n

  1. a short line added above or below a musical staff to extend its range

lee ['lē] -n

  1. protecting shelter
  2. the side (as of a ship) or area that is sheltered from the wind
  3. of, relating to, or being the side sheltered from the wind
  4. facing in the direction of motion of an overriding glacier used esp. of a hillside

lee·board ['lē-,bȯrd] -n

  1. either of the wood or metal planes attached outside the hull of a sailboat to prevent leeway

leech ['lēch] -n, adj

  1. physician, surgeon
  2. any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usu. freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end
  3. a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain
  4. to bleed by the use of leeches
  5. to drain the substance of : exhaust
  6. to attach oneself to a person as a leech
  7. either vertical edge of a square sail
  8. the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail

leek ['lēk] -n

  1. a biennial garden herb ( Allium ampeloprasum porrum) of the lily family grown for its mildly pungent succulent linear leaves and esp. for its thick cylindrical stalk

leer ['lir] -vi, adv

  1. to cast a sidelong glance
  2. to give a leer
  3. a lascivious, knowing, or wanton look

leery ['lir-ē] -adj

  1. suspicious, wary often used with of
    • leery of strangers

lees ['lēz] -n pl

  1. the sediment of a liquor (as wine) during fermentation and aging : dregs

Lee's Birthday ['lēz-] -n

  1. January 19 or the third Monday in January observed as a legal holiday in many southern states

lee shore -n

  1. a shore lying off a ship's leeward side and constituting a severe danger in storm

lee·ward ['lē-wərd, esp naut 'lü-ərd] -n

  1. the lee side

leeward -adj

  1. being in or facing the direction toward which the wind is blowing
  2. being the side opposite the windward

lee·way ['lē-,wā] -n

  1. off-course lateral movement of a ship when under way
  2. the angle between the heading and the track of an airplane
  3. an allowable margin of freedom or variation : tolerance

left ['left] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, situated on, or being the side of the body in which the heart is mostly located
  2. done with the left hand
    • a left hook to the jaw
  3. located nearer to the left hand than to the right
  4. located on the left of an observer facing in the same direction as the object specified
    • stage left
  5. located on the left when facing downstream
    • the left bank of a river
  6. of, adhering to, or constituted by the left esp. in politics
  7. the left hand
  8. the location or direction of the left side
  9. the part on the left side
  10. a turn to the left
    • take a left at the intersection
  11. left field
  12. a blow struck with the left fist
  13. the part of a legislative chamber located to the left of the presiding officer
  14. the members of a continental European legislative body occupying the left as a result of holding more radical political views than other members
  15. those professing views usu. characterized by desire to reform or overthrow the established order esp. in politics and usu. advocating change in the name of the greater freedom or well-being of the common man
  16. a radical as distinguished from a conservative position

left ['lēv] -vb, n

(variant of leave)

  1. bequeath, devise
    • left a fortune to his son
  2. to have remaining after one's death
    • leave s a widow and two children
  3. to cause to remain as a trace or aftereffect
    • oil leave s a stain
    • the wound left an ugly scar
  4. to cause or allow to be or remain in a specified condition
    • leave the door open
    • his manner left me cold
  5. to fail to include or take along
    • left the notes at home
    • the movie leave s a lot out
  6. to have as a remainder
    • 4 from 7 leave s 3
  7. to permit to be or remain subject to another's action or control
    • just leave everything to me
  8. let
  9. to cause or allow to be or remain available
    • leave room for expansion
    • left myself an out
  10. to go away from : depart
    • leave the room
  11. desert, abandon
    • left his wife
  12. to terminate association with : withdraw from
    • left school before graduation
  13. to put, deposit, or deliver before or in the process of departing
    • I left a package for you
    • leave a message
  14. set out, depart
  15. permission to do something
  16. authorized esp. extended absence from duty or employment
  17. an act of leaving : departure
  18. leaf

leftbank -adj

  1. of, relating to, situated in, or characteristic of the bohemian district of Paris on the left bank of the Seine River

left brain ['left-'brānd] -n, adj

  1. the left cerebral hemisphere of the human brain esp. when viewed in terms of its predominant thought processes (as analytic and logical thinking)

left field -n

  1. the position of the player defending left field
  2. the part of the baseball outfield to the left looking out from the plate
  3. a state or position far from the mainstream (as of prevailing opinion)
    • they were really out in left field with that idea
  4. a source of the unexpected or illogical
    • that question came out of left field

lefthand ['left-'hand, 'lef-'tand] -adj

  1. situated on the left
  2. left-handed

lefthand·ed [-'han-dəd, -'tan-] -adj, adv, n

  1. using the left hand habitually or more easily than the right
  2. swinging from left to right
    • a lefthanded batter
  3. relating to, designed for, or done with the left hand
  4. morganatic
  5. clumsy, awkward
  6. insincere, backhanded, dubious
    • a lefthanded compliment
  7. having a direction contrary to that of the hands of a watch viewed from in front : counterclockwise
  8. having a spiral structure or form that ascends or advances to the left
    • a lefthanded rope
  9. having or being the L-form molecular structure

lefthand·er [-'han-dər, -'tan-] -n

  1. a left-handed person

left·ish ['lef-tish] -adj

  1. showing leftist tendencies or a moderately leftist character

left·ism ['lef-,ti-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. the principles and views of the left
  2. the movement embodying these principles
  3. advocacy of or adherence to the doctrines of the left

left·over ['left-,ō-vər] -n

  1. something that remains unused or unconsumed
  2. leftover food served at a later meal usu. used in pl.
  3. an anachronistic survival : vestige
  4. not consumed or used
    • leftover food
    • leftover space

left shoulder arms -n

  1. a position in the manual of arms in which the butt of the rifle is held in the left hand with the barrel resting on the left shoulder
  2. a command to assume this position

left·ward ['left-wərd] -adj or adv

  1. being at, toward, or to the left

left wing ['left-'wiŋ-ər] -n, adj

  1. the leftist division of a group (as a political party)
  2. left

lefty ['lef-tē] -n, adj

  1. left-hander
  2. an advocate of leftism

leg ['leg also 'lāg] -n, adj

  1. : a limb of an animal used esp. for supporting the body and for walking: as
  2. one of the paired vertebrate limbs that in bipeds extend from the top of the thigh to the foot
  3. the part of such a limb between the knee and foot
  4. the back half of a hindquarter of a meat animal
  5. one of the rather generalized segmental appendages of an arthropod used in walking and crawling
  6. a pole or bar serving as a support or prop
    • the leg s of a tripod
  7. a branch of a forked or jointed object
    • the leg s of a compass
  8. the part of an article of clothing that covers the leg
  9. the part of the upper (as of a boot) that extends above the ankle
  10. obeisance, bow used chiefly in the phrase to make a leg
  11. a side of a right triangle that is not the hypotenuse
  12. a side of an isosceles triangle that is not the base
  13. the course and distance sailed by a boat on a single tack
  14. a portion of a trip : stage
  15. one section of a relay race
  16. one of several events or games necessary to be won to decide a competition
    • won the first two leg s of horse racing's Triple Crown
  17. a branch or part of an object or system
  18. long-term appeal or interest
    • a news story with leg s
  19. to use the legs in walking
  20. run
  21. legal
  22. legato
  23. legislative; legislature

leg·a·cy ['le-gə-sē] -n

  1. a gift by will esp. of money or other personal property : bequest
  2. something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past
    • the legacy of the ancient philosophers

legacy -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a previous or outdated computer system
    • transfer the legacy data
    • a legacy system

le·gal ['lē-gəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to law
  2. deriving authority from or founded on law : de jure
  3. having a formal status derived from law often without a basis in actual fact : titular
    • a corporation is a legal but not a real person
  4. established by law
  5. statutory
  6. conforming to or permitted by law or established rules
  7. recognized or made effective by a court of law as distinguished from a court of equity
  8. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or of one of its members
  9. created by the constructions of the law
    • a legal fiction

legal -n

  1. one that conforms to rules or the law

legal age -n

  1. the age at which a person enters into full adult legal rights and responsibilities (as of making contracts or wills)

legal aid -n

  1. aid provided by an organization established esp. to serve the legal needs of the poor

legal eagle -n

  1. lawyer

le·gal·ese [,lē-gə-'lēz, -'lēs] -n

  1. the specialized language of the legal profession
    • replaced legalese with plain talk -- Steve Weinberg

legal holiday -n

  1. a holiday established by legal authority and marked by restrictions on work and transaction of official business

le·gal·ise ['lē-gə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of legalize)

  1. to make legal
  2. to give legal validity or sanction to

le·gal·ism ['lē-gə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code
    • the institutionalized legalism that restricts free choice
  2. a legal term or rule

le·gal·ist [-list] -n, adj, adv

  1. an advocate or adherent of moral legalism
  2. one that views things from a legal standpoint
  3. one that places primary emphasis on legal principles or on the formal structure of governmental institutions

le·gal·i·ty [li-'ga-lə-tē] -n

  1. attachment to or observance of law
  2. the quality or state of being legal : lawfulness
  3. obligations imposed by law

le·gal·ize ['lē-gə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make legal
  2. to give legal validity or sanction to

legal pad -n

  1. a writing tablet of ruled yellow paper that is usu. 8.5 by 14 inches (about 22 by 36 centimeters)

legal reserve -n

  1. the minimum amount of bank deposits or life insurance company assets required by law to be kept as reserves

legal tender -n

  1. money that is legally valid for the payment of debts and that must be accepted for that purpose when offered

leg·ate ['le-gət] -n

  1. a usu. official emissary

le·gate [li-'gāt] -vt, n

  1. bequeath

leg·a·tee [,le-gə-'tē] -n

  1. one to whom a legacy is bequeathed or a devise is given

leg·a·tine ['le-gə-,tēn, -,tīn] -adj

  1. of, headed by, or enacted under the authority of a legate

le·ga·tion [li-'gā-shən] -n

  1. the sending forth of a legate
  2. a body of deputies sent on a mission
  3. a diplomatic mission in a foreign country headed by a minister
  4. the official residence and office of a diplomatic minister in a foreign country

le·ga·to [li-'gä-(,)tō] -adv or adj

  1. in a manner that is smooth and connected (as between successive tones) used esp. as a direction in music

legato -n

  1. a smooth and connected manner of performance (as of music)
  2. a passage of music so performed

leg·end ['le-jənd] -n

  1. a story coming down from the past
  2. one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable
  3. a body of such stories
    • a place in the legend of the frontier
  4. a popular myth of recent origin
  5. a person or thing that inspires legends
  6. the subject of a legend
    • its violence was legend even in its own time -- William Broyles Jr.
  7. an inscription or title on an object (as a coin)
  8. caption
  9. an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart

leg·end·ary ['le-jən-,der-ē, -,de-rē] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of legend or a legend
  2. well-known, famous

leg·end·ry ['le-jən-drē] -n

  1. a body of legends

leg·er·de·main [,le-jər-də-'mān] -n

  1. sleight of hand
  2. a display of skill or adroitness

le·ger·i·ty [lə-'jer-ə-tē, le-, -'je-rə-] -n

  1. alert facile quickness of mind or body

leger line ['le-jər-] -n

(variant of ledger line)

  1. a short line added above or below a musical staff to extend its range

leges ['leks] -n

(variant of lex)

  1. law

leg·ged ['le-gəd also 'lā-, Brit usu 'legd] -adj

  1. having a leg or legs esp. of a specified kind or number often used in combination
    • a four- legged animal

leg·ging ['le-gən also 'lā-, -giŋ] -n

  1. a covering (as of leather or cloth) for the leg usu. used in pl.
  2. tights

leg·gy ['le-gē also 'lā-] -adj, n

  1. having disproportionately long legs
  2. having long and attractive legs
  3. spindly used of a plant

leg·hold trap ['leg-,hōld-] -n

  1. a jawed usu. steel trap that is used to hold a wild mammal and operates by springing closed and clamping onto the leg of the animal that steps on it

leg·horn ['leg-,hȯrn; 'le-,gȯrn, -gərn] -n

  1. a fine plaited straw made from an Italian wheat
  2. a hat of this straw
  3. any of a Mediterranean breed of small hardy domestic chickens noted for their large production of white eggs

leg·i·ble ['le-jə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being read or deciphered : plain
    • legible handwriting
  2. capable of being discovered or understood

le·gion ['lē-jən] -n

  1. the principal unit of the Roman army comprising 3000 to 6000 foot soldiers with cavalry
  2. a large military force
  3. army
  4. a very large number : multitude
  5. a national association of ex-servicemen

legion -adj

  1. many, numerous
    • the problems are legion

le·gion·ary ['lē-jə-,ner-ē, -,ne-rē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a legion

legionary -n

  1. legionnaire

le·gion·naire [,lē-jə-'ner] -n

  1. a member of a legion

Legionnaires' disease [-'nerz-] -n

  1. a lobar pneumonia caused by a bacterium ( Legionella pneumophila)

Legion of Honor

  1. a French order conferred as a reward for civil or military merit

Legion of Merit

  1. a U.S. military decoration awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services

legis -abbr

  1. legislation; legislative; legislature

leg·is·late ['le-jəs-,lāt] -vb

  1. to perform the function of legislation
  2. to make or enact laws
  3. to mandate, establish, or regulate by or as if by legislation

leg·is·la·tion [,le-jəs-'lā-shən] -n

  1. the action of legislating
  2. the exercise of the power and function of making rules (as laws) that have the force of authority by virtue of their promulgation by an official organ of a state or other organization
  3. the enactments of a legislator or a legislative body
  4. a matter of business for or under consideration by a legislative body

leg·is·la·tive ['le-jəs-,lā-tiv, -lə-] -adj, adv

  1. having the power or performing the function of legislating
  2. belonging to the branch of government that is charged with such powers as making laws, levying and collecting taxes, and making financial appropriations
  3. of or relating to a legislature
    • legislative committees
  4. composed of members of a legislature
    • legislative caucus
  5. created by a legislature esp. as distinguished from an executive or judicial body
  6. designed to assist a legislature or its members
    • a legislative research agency
  7. of, concerned with, or created by legislation
    • legislative courts

legislative -n

  1. the body or department exercising the power and function of legislating : legislature

legislative assembly -n

  1. a bicameral legislature (as in an American state)
  2. the lower house of a bicameral legislature
  3. a unicameral legislature
  4. one in a Canadian province

legislative council -n

  1. a permanent committee chosen from both houses that meets between sessions of a state legislature to study state problems and plan a legislative program
  2. a unicameral legislature (as in a British colony)
  3. the upper house of a British bicameral legislature

leg·is·la·tor ['le-jəs-,lā-,tȯr, -,lā-tər also ,le-jəs-'lā-,tȯr] -n, adj

  1. one that makes laws esp. for a political unit
  2. a member of a legislative body

leg·is·la·ture ['le-jəs-,lā-chər also ,le-jəs-', Brit often 'le-jəs-lə-] -n

  1. a body of persons having the power to legislate
  2. an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit

le·gist ['lē-jist] -n

  1. a specialist in law
  2. one learned in Roman or civil law

le·git [li-'jit] -adj

  1. legitimate

le·git·i·ma·cy [li-'ji-tə-mə-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being legitimate

le·git·i·mate [li-'ji-tə-mət] -adj, adv

  1. lawfully begotten
  2. born in wedlock
  3. having full filial rights and obligations by birth
    • a legitimate child
  4. being exactly as purposed : neither spurious nor false
    • a legitimate grievance
    • a legitimate practitioner
  5. accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements
    • a legitimate government
  6. ruling by or based on the strict principle of hereditary right
    • a legitimate king
  7. conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards
    • a legitimate advertising expenditure
    • a legitimate inference
  8. relating to plays acted by professional actors but not including revues, burlesque, or some forms of musical comedy
    • the legitimate theater
  9. : to make legitimate:
  10. to give legal status or authorization to
  11. to show or affirm to be justified
  12. to lend authority or respectability to
  13. to put (a bastard) in the state of a legitimate child before the law by legal means

le·git·i·ma·tize [li-'ji-tə-mə-,tīz] -vt

  1. legitimate

le·git·i·mise [-,mīz] -vt, n

(variant of legitimize)

  1. to make legitimate : legitimate

le·git·i·mism [li-'ji-tə-,mi-zəm] -n, adj

  1. adherence to the principles of political legitimacy or to a person claiming legitimacy

le·git·i·mize [-,mīz] -vt, n

  1. to make legitimate : legitimate

leg·man ['leg-,man also 'lāg-] -n

  1. a reporter assigned usu. to gather information
  2. an assistant who performs various subordinate tasks (as gathering information or running errands)

legofmut·ton [,le-gə(v)-'mə-tᵊn also ,lāg-] -adj

  1. having the approximately triangular shape or outline of a leg of mutton
    • a legofmutton sleeve
    • a legofmutton sail

leg out -vt

  1. to make (as a base hit) by fast running

legpull ['leg-,pu̇l also 'lāg-] -n

  1. a humorous deception or hoax

leg·room [-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n

  1. space in which to extend the legs while seated

le·gume ['le-,gyüm, li-'gyüm] -n

  1. the fruit or seed of plants of the legume family (as peas or beans) used for food
  2. a vegetable used for food
  3. any of a large family (Leguminosae syn. Fabaceae, the legume family) of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs, and trees having fruits that are legumes (sense 3) or loments, bearing nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and including important food and forage plants (as peas, beans, or clovers)
  4. a dry dehiscent one-celled fruit developed from a simple superior ovary and usu. dehiscing into two valves with the seeds attached to the ventral suture : pod

le·gu·mi·nous [li-'gyü-mə-nəs, le-] -adj

  1. of, resembling, or consisting of legumes (as peas)
  2. of or relating to the legume family

leg up -n

  1. a helping hand : boost
  2. head start

leg warmer -n

  1. a usu. knitted covering for the leg

leg·work ['leg-,wərk also 'lāg-] -n

  1. active physical work (as in gathering information) that forms the basis of more creative or mentally exacting work (as writing a book)

le·hua [lā-'hü-ə] -n

  1. a common very showy chiefly Polynesian tree ( Metrosideros collinus) of the myrtle family having bright red flowers and a hard wood
  2. its flower

lei ['lā, 'lā-,ē] -n

  1. a wreath or necklace usu. of flowers or leaves

Leices·ter ['les-tər] -n

  1. an individual of a breed of white-faced long wool sheep having a massive body and heavy fleece that was orig. developed in England and extensively used in the development of numerous modern sheep breeds
  2. a hard usu. orange-colored cheese similar to cheddar

Leics -abbr

  1. Leicestershire

leish·man·ia [lēsh-'ma-nē-ə] -n, adj

  1. any of a genus ( Leishmania) of flagellate protozoans that are parasitic in the tissues of vertebrates
  2. an organism resembling the leishmanias that is included in the family (Trypanosomatidae) to which they belong

leish·man·i·a·sis [,lēsh-mə-'nī-ə-səs] -n

  1. infection with or disease caused by leishmanias

leis·ter ['lēs-tər] -n

  1. a spear armed with three or more barbed prongs for catching fish

lei·sure ['lē-zhər, 'le-, 'lā-] -n, adj

  1. freedom provided by the cessation of activities
  2. time free from work or duties
  3. ease, leisureliness

lei·sured [-zhərd] -adj

  1. having leisure : leisurely

lei·sure·ly [-zhər-lē] -adv

  1. without haste : deliberately

leisurely -adj, n

  1. characterized by leisure : unhurried
    • a leisurely pace

leisure suit -n

  1. a suit consisting of a shirt jacket and matching trousers for informal wear

leit·mo·tif ['līt-mō-,tēf] -n

  1. an associated melodic phrase or figure that accompanies the reappearance of an idea, person, or situation esp. in a Wagnerian music drama
  2. a dominant recurring theme

lek ['lek] -n

  1. an assembly area where animals (as the prairie chicken) carry on display and courtship behavior
  2. an aggregation of animals assembled on a lek for courtship

lek·var ['lek-,vär] -n

  1. a prune butter used as a pastry filling

LEM -abbr

  1. lunar excursion module; lunar module

le·man ['le-mən, 'lē-] -n

  1. sweetheart, lover
  2. mistress

lem·ma ['le-mə] -n

  1. an auxiliary proposition used in the demonstration of another proposition
  2. the argument or theme of a composition prefixed as a title or introduction
  3. the heading or theme of a comment or note on a text
  4. a glossed word or phrase

lemma -n

  1. the lower of the two bracts enclosing the flower in the spikelet of grasses

lem·ming ['le-miŋ] -n, adj

  1. any of various small short-tailed furry-footed rodents (as genera Lemmusand Dicrostonyx) of circumpolar distribution that are notable for population fluctuations and recurrent mass migrations

lem·nis·cate [lem-'nis-kət] -n

  1. a figure-eight shaped curve whose equation in polar coordinates is 2 a 2cos 2 or 2 a 2sin 2

lem·nis·cus [lem-'nis-kəs] -n, adj

  1. a band of fibers and esp. nerve fibers

lem·on ['le-mən] -n

  1. an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree ( Citrus limon) and that has a rind from which an aromatic oil is extracted
  2. a tree that bears lemons
  3. one (as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective

lemon -adj

  1. of the color lemon yellow
  2. containing lemon
  3. having the flavor or scent of lemon

lem·on·ade [,le-mə-'nād] -n

  1. a beverage of sweetened lemon juice mixed with water

lemon balm -n

  1. a bushy perennial European mint ( Melissa officinalis) often cultivated for its lemon-scented leaves
  2. its leaves

lemon curd -n

  1. a custard made with lemon juice, butter, sugar, and eggs and used as a spread or filling

lem·on·grass ['le-mən-,gras] -n

  1. a grass ( Cymbopogon citratus) of robust habit native to southern India and Ceylon that is grown in tropical regions for its lemon-scented foliage used as a seasoning and that is the source of an aromatic essential oil
  2. its foliage

lemon law -n

  1. a law offering car buyers relief (as by repair, replacement, or refund) for defects detected during a specified period after purchase

lemon shark -n

  1. a medium-sized requiem shark ( Negaprion brevirostris) of warm waters that is yellowish brown to gray above with yellow or greenish sides

lemon sole -n

  1. : any of several flatfishes and esp. flounders: as
  2. a bottom-dwelling flounder ( Microstomus kitt) of the northeastern Atlantic that is an important food fish
  3. winter flounder

lemon thyme -n

  1. a thyme ( Thymus citriodorus) having lemon-scented leaves used as a seasoning
  2. its leaves

lemon verbena -n

  1. a small shrub ( Aloysia triphylla) of Chile and Argentina that has narrow lemon-scented leaves

lem·ony ['le-mə-nē] -adj

  1. resembling or suggestive of a lemon

lemon yellow -n

  1. a brilliant greenish yellow color

le·mur ['lē-mər] -n

  1. any of various arboreal chiefly nocturnal prosimian primates (superfamily Lemuroidea) that were formerly widespread but are now largely confined to Madagascar and that usu. have a longish muzzle, large eyes, very soft woolly fur, and a long furry tail

le·mu·res ['le-mə-,rās, 'lem-yə-,rēz] -n pl

  1. spirits of the unburied dead exorcised from homes in early Roman religious rites

Len·a·pe ['le-nə-pē, lə-'nä-pē] -n

  1. delaware

lend ['lend] -vb, adj, n

  1. to give for temporary use on condition that the same or its equivalent be returned
    • lend me your pen
  2. to put at another's temporary disposal
    • lent us their services
  3. to let out (money) for temporary use on condition of repayment with interest
  4. to give the assistance or support of : afford, furnish
    • a dispassionate and scholarly manner which lend s great force to his criticisms -- Times Lit. Supp.
  5. to adapt or apply (oneself) readily : accommodate
    • a topic that lend s itself admirably to class discussion
  6. to make a loan

lending library -n

  1. a library from which materials are lent
  2. rental library

lendlease ['lend-'lēs] -n, vt

  1. the transfer of goods and services to an ally to aid in a common cause with payment made by a return of the original items or their use in the cause or by a similar transfer of other goods and services

length ['leŋ(k)th, 'len(t)th] -n

  1. the longer or longest dimension of an object
  2. a measured distance or dimension
    • 10 feet in length
  3. the quality or state of being long
  4. duration or extent in time
  5. relative duration or stress of a sound
  6. distance or extent in space
  7. the length of something taken as a unit of measure
    • his horse led by a length
  8. the degree to which something (as a course of action or a line of thought) is carried often used in pl.
    • went to great length s to learn the truth
  9. a long expanse or stretch
  10. a piece constituting or usable as part of a whole or of a connected series : section
    • a length of pipe
  11. the longer or vertical dimension of a piece of clothing often used in combination
    • elbow- length sleeves

length·en ['leŋ(k)-thən, 'len(t)-] -vb, n

  1. to make longer
  2. to grow longer

length·ways ['leŋ(k)th-,wāz, 'len(t)th-] -adv

  1. lengthwise

length·wise [-,wīz] -adv, adj

  1. in the direction of the length : longitudinally

lengthy ['leŋ(k)-thē, 'len(t)-] -adj, adv, n

  1. protracted excessively : overlong
  2. extended, long

le·nience ['lē-nyən(t)s, -nē-ən(t)s] -n

  1. leniency

le·nien·cy ['lē-nē-ən(t)-sē, -nyən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being lenient
  2. a lenient disposition or practice

le·nient ['lē-nē-ənt, -nyənt] -adj, adv

  1. exerting a soothing or easing influence : relieving pain or stress
  2. of mild and tolerant disposition
  3. indulgent

Le·nin·ism ['le-nə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. the political, economic, and social principles and policies advocated by Lenin
  2. the theory and practice of communism developed by or associated with Lenin

le·nis ['lē-nəs, 'lā-] -adj

  1. produced with an articulation that is lax in relation to another speech sound
    • t in gutter is lenis, t in toe is fortis

len·i·tion [lə-'ni-shən] -n

  1. the change from fortis to lenis articulation

len·i·tive ['le-nə-tiv] -adj, n, adv

  1. alleviating pain or harshness : soothing

len·i·ty ['le-nə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being lenient : clemency

Len·niLen·a·pe [,le-nē-'le-nə-pē, -lə-'nä-pē] -n

  1. delaware

le·no ['lē-(,)nō] -n

  1. an open weave in which pairs of warp yarns cross one another and thereby lock the filling yarn in position
  2. a fabric made with a leno weave

lens ['lenz] -n, adj

  1. a piece of transparent material (as glass) that has two opposite regular surfaces either both curved or one curved and the other plane and that is used either singly or combined in an optical instrument for forming an image by focusing rays of light
  2. a combination of two or more simple lenses
  3. a piece of glass or plastic used (as in safety goggles or sunglasses) to protect the eye
  4. a device for directing or focusing radiation other than light (as sound waves, radio microwaves, or electrons)
  5. something shaped like a biconvex optical lens
    • lens of sandstone
  6. a highly transparent biconvex lens-shaped or nearly spherical body in the eye that focuses light rays (as upon the retina)
  7. something that facilitates and influences perception, comprehension, or evaluation
    • viewing the current legal battle...through partisan lens es -- New Republic
  8. gravitational lens
  9. to make a motion picture of : film

lens·man [-mən, -,man] -n

  1. photographer

Lent ['lent] -n

  1. the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern, and some Protestant churches as a period of penitence and fasting

len·ta·men·te [,len-tə-'men-(,)tā] -adv or adj

  1. lento

len·tan·do [len-'tän-(,)dō] -adv or adj

  1. becoming slower used as a direction in music

Lent·en ['len-tᵊn] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or suitable for Lent
  2. meager
    • Lenten fare

len·tic ['len-tik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or living in still waters (as lakes, ponds, or swamps)

len·ti·cel ['len-tə-,sel] -n

  1. a loose aggregation of cells which penetrates the surface (as of a stem) of a woody plant and through which gases are exchanged between the atmosphere and the underlying tissues

len·tic·u·lar [len-'ti-kyə-lər] -adj

  1. having the shape of a double-convex lens
  2. of or relating to a lens
  3. provided with or utilizing lenticules
    • a lenticular screen

len·ti·cule ['len-tə-,kyül] -n

  1. any of the minute lenses on the base side of a film used in stereoscopic or color photography
  2. any of the tiny corrugations or grooves molded or embossed into the surface of a projection screen

len·til ['len-tᵊl] -n

  1. a widely cultivated Eurasian annual leguminous plant ( Lens culinaris) with flattened edible seeds and leafy stalks used as fodder
  2. the seed of the lentil

len·tis·si·mo [len-'ti-sə-,mō] -adv or adj

  1. at a very slow tempo used as a direction in music

len·ti·vi·rus [,len-tə-'vī-rəs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Lentivirus) of retroviruses (as the HIVs and SIV) that cause slowly progressive often fatal human and animal diseases (as AIDS)

len·to ['len-(,)tō] -adv or adj

  1. at a slow tempo used esp. as a direction in music

Leo ['lē-(,)ō] -n, adj

  1. a northern constellation east of Cancer
  2. the fifth sign of the zodiac in astrology
  3. one born under this sign

Le·o·nid ['lē-ə-nid] -n

  1. any of the meteors in a meteor shower occurring every year about November 14

le·o·nine ['lē-ə-,nīn] -adj

  1. of, relating to, suggestive of, or resembling a lion

leop·ard ['le-pərd] -n

  1. a large strong cat ( Panthera pardus) of southern Asia and Africa that is adept at climbing and is usu. tawny or buff with black spots arranged in rosettes called also panther
  2. a heraldic representation of a lion passant guardant

leopard cat -n

  1. a small spotted cat ( Felis bengalensis) chiefly of southeastern Asia

leopard frog -n

  1. a common frog ( Rana pipiens) of northern No. America that is bright green or brown with large black white-margined blotches on the back
  2. a similar frog ( R. sphenocephala) chiefly of the southeastern U.S.

leopard seal -n

  1. a spotted slate gray seal ( Hydrurga leptonyx) esp. of antarctic and subantarctic waters that feeds chiefly on krill, other seals, penguins, and fish

le·o·tard ['lē-ə-,tärd] -n, adj

  1. a close-fitting one-piece garment worn esp. by dancers, acrobats, and aerialists
  2. tights often used in pl.

LEP -abbr

  1. limited English proficiency; limited English proficient

Lep·cha ['lep-chə] -n

  1. a member of a people of Sikkim, India
  2. the Tibeto-Burman language of the Lepcha people

lep·er ['le-pər] -n

  1. a person affected with leprosy
  2. a person shunned for moral or social reasons

lepid- -comb form

  1. flake : scale
    • Lepido ptera

le·pid·o·lite [li-'pi-də-,līt] -n

  1. a variable form of mica used esp. in glazes and enamels and as a source of lithium

lep·i·dop·tera [,le-pə-'däp-tə-rə] -n pl

  1. insects that are lepidopterans

lep·i·dop·ter·an [-rən] -n, adj

  1. any of a large order (Lepidoptera) of insects comprising the butterflies, moths, and skippers that as adults have four broad or lanceolate wings usu. covered with minute overlapping and often brightly colored scales and that as larvae are caterpillars

lep·i·dop·ter·ist [-tə-rist] -n

  1. a specialist in lepidopterology

lep·i·dop·ter·ol·o·gy [-,däp-tə-'rä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of entomology concerned with lepidopterans

lep·i·dote ['le-pə-,dōt] -n

  1. a rhododendron with tiny scales on the undersurface of the leaves

lep·re·chaun ['lep-rə-,kän, -,kȯn] -n, adj

  1. a mischievous elf of Irish folklore usu. believed to reveal the hiding place of treasure if caught

le·pro·ma·tous [lə-'prä-mə-təs, -'prō-] -adj

  1. characterized by, exhibiting, or being leprosy with infective superficial granulomatous nodules

lep·ro·sar·i·um [,le-prə-'ser-ē-əm] -n

  1. a hospital for leprosy patients

lep·ro·sy ['le-prə-sē] -n, adj

  1. a chronic infectious disease caused by a mycobacterium ( Mycobacterium leprae) affecting esp. the skin and peripheral nerves and characterized by the formation of nodules or macules that enlarge and spread accompanied by loss of sensation with eventual paralysis, wasting of muscle, and production of deformities called also Hansen's disease
  2. a morally or spiritually harmful influence

lep·rous ['le-prəs] -adj, adv

  1. infected with leprosy
  2. of, relating to, or resembling leprosy or a leper
  3. scaly, scurfy

lep·tin ['lep-tən] -n

  1. a peptide hormone that is produced by fat cells and plays a role in body weight regulation by acting on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and burn fat stored in adipose tissue

lep·to·ceph·a·lus [,lep-tə-'se-fə-ləs] -n

  1. a long thin small-headed transparent pelagic first larva of various eels

lep·ton [lep-'tän] -n

  1. a former monetary unit equal to drachma
  2. any of a family of particles (as electrons, muons, and neutrinos) that have spin quantum number and that experience no strong forces

lep·to·spire [-,spī(-ə)r] -n, adj

  1. any of a genus ( Leptospira) of slender aerobic spiral-shaped spirochetes that are free-living or parasitic in mammals

lep·to·spi·ro·sis [,lep-tə-spī-'rō-səs] -n

  1. any of several diseases of humans and domestic animals that are caused by infection with leptospires

lep·to·tene ['lep-tə-,tēn] -n, adj

  1. a stage of meiotic prophase immediately preceding synapsis in which the chromosomes appear as fine discrete threads

les·bi·an ['lez-bē-ən] -adj

  1. of or relating to Lesbos
  2. of or relating to homosexuality between females

lesbian -n

  1. a woman who is a homosexual

les·bi·an·ism ['lez-bē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. female homosexuality

lesema·jes·te [,lāz-'ma-jə-stē, ,lez-, ,lēz-] -n

  1. a crime (as treason) committed against a sovereign power
  2. an offense violating the dignity of a ruler as the representative of a sovereign power
  3. a detraction from or affront to dignity or importance

le·sion ['lē-zhən] -n, adj

  1. injury, harm
  2. an abnormal change in structure of an organ or part due to injury or disease
  3. one that is circumscribed and well defined

les·pe·de·za [,les-pə-'dē-zə] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Lespedeza) of herbaceous or shrubby plants of the legume family including some widely used for forage, soil improvement, and hay

less ['les] -adj

  1. constituting a more limited number or amount
    • less than three
    • less than half done
  2. of lower rank, degree, or importance
    • no less a person than the president himself
  3. of reduced size, extent, or degree
  4. more limited in quantity
    • in less time
  5. to a lesser extent or degree
  6. a smaller portion or quantity
  7. something of less importance
  8. diminished by : minus

les·see [le-'sē] -n

  1. one that holds real or personal property under a lease

less·en ['le-sᵊn] -vb

  1. to shrink in size, number, or degree : decrease
  2. to reduce in size, extent, or degree
  3. to represent as of little value
  4. to lower in status or dignity : degrade

less·er ['le-sər] -adj

  1. of less size, quality, degree, or significance : of lower status

lesser -adv

  1. less
    • lesser -known

lesser celandine -n

  1. a yellow-flowered Eurasian perennial herb ( Ranunculus ficaria) of the buttercup family naturalized in No. America

lesser cornstalk borer -n

  1. a pyralid moth ( Elasmopalpus lignosellus) having slender greenish larvae that burrow in the stalk esp. of Indian corn near ground level

lesser panda -n

  1. red panda

lesser peach tree borer -n

  1. a clearwing moth ( Synanthedon pictipes) whose larva bores into the wood of stone-fruit trees and esp. the peach

lesser yellowlegs -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a common American marsh and shore bird ( Tringa flavipes) that closely resembles the greater yellowlegs in color and markings but is smaller with a shorter more slender bill

les·son ['le-sᵊn] -n

  1. a passage from sacred writings read in a service of worship
  2. a piece of instruction
  3. a reading or exercise to be studied by a pupil
  4. a division of a course of instruction
  5. something learned by study or experience
    • his years of travel had taught him valuable lesson s
  6. an instructive example
    • the lesson s of history
  7. reprimand

lesson ['le-sə-niŋ, 'les-niŋ] -vt

  1. to give a lesson to : instruct
  2. lecture, rebuke

les·sor ['le-,sȯr, le-'sȯr] -n

  1. one that conveys property by lease

lest ['lest] -conj

  1. for fear that often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension
    • worried lest she should be late
    • hesitant to speak out lest he be fired

let ['let] -vt

  1. hinder, prevent
  2. something that impedes : obstruction
    • ruled his little world without hindrance or let -- B. F. Reilly
  3. a shot or point in racket games that does not count and must be replayed
  4. to cause to : make
    • let me know
  5. to offer or grant for rent or lease
    • let rooms
  6. to assign esp. after bids
    • let a contract
  7. to give opportunity to or fail to prevent
    • live and let live
    • a break in the clouds let us see the summit
    • let the opportunity slip
  8. used in the imperative to introduce a request or proposal
    • let us pray
  9. used as an auxiliary to express a warning
    • let him try
  10. to free from or as if from confinement
    • let out a scream
    • let blood
  11. to permit to enter, pass, or leave
    • let them through
    • let them off with a warning
  12. to make an adjustment to
    • let out the waist
  13. to become rented or leased
  14. to become awarded to a contractor

let alone -conj

  1. to say nothing of : not to mention used esp. to emphasize the improbability of a contrasting example
    • he would never walk again let alone play golf -- Sports Illus.
    • how many ever see an Ambassador or Minister, let alone a President -- Robert Lacville

letch ['lech] -n

  1. craving
  2. sexual desire
  3. lecher

let·down ['let-,dau̇n] -n

  1. discouragement, disappointment
    • his latest novel is a letdown
  2. a slackening of effort : relaxation
  3. the descent of an aircraft or spacecraft to the point at which a landing approach is begun
  4. a physiological response of a lactating mammal to suckling and allied stimuli whereby previously secreted milk from the acini is expelled into ducts and drawn through the nipple

let down -vt

  1. to allow to descend gradually
  2. to fail to support
    • felt her parents had let her down
  3. disappoint
    • the plot lets you down at the end
    • afraid of letting his father down

le·thal ['lē-thəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or causing death
    • death by lethal injection
  2. capable of causing death
    • lethal chemicals
  3. gravely damaging or destructive : devastating
    • a lethal attack on his reputation
  4. very potent or effective
    • a lethal fastball
  5. having a high alcohol content
    • a lethal rum punch

lethal -n

  1. an abnormality of genetic origin causing the death of the organism possessing it
  2. lethal gene

lethal gene -n

  1. a gene that in some (as homozygous) conditions may prevent development or cause the death of an organism or its germ cells called also lethal factor lethal mutant lethal mutation

le·thar·gic [lə-'thär-jik, le-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by lethargy : sluggish
  2. indifferent, apathetic

leth·ar·gy ['le-thər-jē] -n

  1. abnormal drowsiness
  2. the quality or state of being lazy, sluggish, or indifferent

le·the ['lē-thē] -n, adj

  1. a river in Hades whose waters cause drinkers to forget their past
  2. oblivion, forgetfulness

let on -vi

  1. to make acknowledgment : admit
    • knows more than he lets on
  2. to reveal a secret
    • nobody let on about the surprise party
  3. pretend
    • let on to being a stranger

let out -vi

  1. to conclude a session or performance
    • school let out in June

let's ['lets, in rapid speech 'les]

  1. let us

Lett ['let] -n

  1. latvian

let·ter ['le-tər] -n

  1. a symbol usu. written or printed representing a speech sound and constituting a unit of an alphabet
  2. a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization
  3. a written communication containing a grant usu. used in pl.
  4. literature, belles lettres
  5. learning
  6. the strict or outward sense or significance
    • the letter of the law
  7. a single piece of type
  8. a style of type
  9. the initial of a school awarded to a student for achievement usu. in athletics

letter [-tər-ər] -vt, n

  1. to set down in letters : print
  2. to mark with letters
  3. to win an athletic letter

let·ter ['le-tər] -n

  1. one that rents or leases

letter bomb -n

  1. an explosive device concealed in an envelope and mailed to the intended victim

letter box -n

  1. mailbox

let·ter·boxed ['le-tər-,bäkst] -adj, n

  1. formatted so as to display the full rectangular frame of a wide-screen motion picture

letter carrier -n

  1. a person who delivers mail

let·tered ['le-tərd] -adj

  1. learned, educated
  2. of, relating to, or characterized by learning : cultured
  3. inscribed with or as if with letters

let·ter·form ['le-tər-,fȯrm] -n

  1. the shape of a letter of an alphabet esp. from the standpoint of design or development

let·ter·head [-,hed] -n

  1. stationery printed or engraved usu. with the name and address of an organization
  2. a sheet of such stationery
  3. the heading at the top of a letterhead

let·ter·ing ['le-tə-riŋ] -n

  1. letters used in an inscription

let·ter·man ['le-tər-mən] -n

  1. an athlete who has earned a letter in a school sport

letter of credence

  1. a formal document attesting to the power of a diplomatic agent to act for the issuing government called also letters of credence

letter of credit

  1. a letter addressed by a banker to a correspondent certifying that a person named therein is entitled to draw on the writer's credit up to a certain sum
  2. a letter addressed by a banker to a person to whom credit is given authorizing drafts on the issuing bank or on a bank in the person's country up to a certain sum and guaranteeing to accept the drafts if duly made

letter of intent

  1. a written statement of the intention to enter into a formal agreement

let·terper·fect ['le-tər-'pər-fikt] -adj

  1. correct to the smallest detail
  2. verbatim

let·ter·press ['le-tər-,pres] -n

  1. the process of printing from an inked raised surface esp. when the paper is impressed directly upon the surface
  2. text (as of a book) distinct from pictorial illustrations

letters close [-'klōs] -n pl

  1. letters issued by a government or sovereign to a private person in a private matter

letter sheet -n

  1. a sheet of stationery that can be folded and sealed with the message inside to form its own envelope

letters of administration

  1. a letter evidencing the right of an administrator to administer the goods or estate of a deceased person

letters of marque [-'märk]

  1. written authority granted to a private person by a government to seize the subjects of a foreign state or their goods
  2. a license granted to a private person to fit out an armed ship to plunder the enemy

let·ter·spac·ing ['le-tər-,spā-siŋ] -n

  1. insertion of space between the letters of a word

letters patent -n pl

  1. a writing (as from a sovereign) that confers on a designated person a grant in a form open for public inspection

Lett·ish ['le-tish] -adj

  1. of or relating to the Latvians or their language

Lettish -n

  1. latvian

let·tre de ca·chet ['le-trə-də-,ka-'shā] -n

  1. a letter bearing an official seal and usu. authorizing imprisonment without trial of a named person

let·tuce ['le-təs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Lactuca) of composite plants
  2. a common garden vegetable ( L. sativa) whose succulent leaves are used esp. in salads

let·up ['let-,əp] -n

  1. a lessening of effort, activity, or intensity

let up -vi

  1. to diminish or slow down : slacken
  2. cease, stop
  3. to become less severe used with on

leuc- -comb form

(variant of leuk-)

  1. white : colorless : weakly colored
    • leuko cyte
    • leuko rrhea
  2. leukocyte
    • leuk emia
  3. white matter of the brain
    • leuko tomy

leu·cine ['lü-,sēn] -n

  1. a white crystalline essential amino acid C 6H 13NO 2obtained by the hydrolysis of most dietary proteins

leu·cite ['lü-,sīt] -n, adj

  1. a white or gray mineral consisting of a silicate of potassium and aluminum and occurring in igneous rocks

leu·co·ci·din [,lü-kə-'sī-dᵊn] -n

  1. a bacterial substance that destroys white blood cells

leu·co·plast ['lü-kə-,plast] -n

  1. a colorless plastid esp. in the cytoplasm of interior plant tissues that is potentially capable of developing into a chloroplast

leuk- -comb form

  1. white : colorless : weakly colored
    • leuko cyte
    • leuko rrhea
  2. leukocyte
    • leuk emia
  3. white matter of the brain
    • leuko tomy

leu·kae·mia [lü-'kē-mē-ə] -n, adj or n

(variant of leukemia)

  1. an acute or chronic disease in humans and other warm-blooded animals characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues and often in the blood

leu·kae·mo·gen·e·sis [lü-,kē-mə-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj

(variant of leukemogenesis)

  1. induction or production of leukemia

leu·ke·mia [lü-'kē-mē-ə] -n, adj or n

  1. an acute or chronic disease in humans and other warm-blooded animals characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the tissues and often in the blood

leu·ke·mo·gen·e·sis [lü-,kē-mə-'je-nə-səs] -n, adj

  1. induction or production of leukemia

leu·ke·moid [-,mȯid] -adj

  1. resembling leukemia but not involving the same changes in the blood-forming organs

leu·ko·cyte ['lü-kə-,sīt] -n, adj

  1. white blood cell

leu·ko·cy·to·sis [,lü-kə-sī-'tō-səs, -kə-sə-] -n

  1. an increase in the number of white blood cells in the circulating blood

leu·ko·dys·tro·phy [,lü-kō-'dis-trə-fē] -n

  1. any of several genetically determined diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of myelin in the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves

leu·ko·pe·nia [,lü-kə-'pē-nē-ə] -n, adj

  1. a condition in which the number of white blood cells circulating in the blood is abnormally low

leu·ko·pla·kia [,lü-kō-'plā-kē-ə] -n, adj

  1. an abnormal condition in which thickened white patches of epithelium occur on the mucous membranes (as of the mouth or vulva)
  2. a lesion or lesioned area of leukoplakia

leu·ko·poi·e·sis [-pȯi-'ē-səs] -n, adj

  1. the formation of white blood cells

leu·kor·rhea [,lü-kə-'rē-ə] -n, adj

  1. a whitish viscid discharge from the vagina resulting from inflammation or congestion of the mucous membrane

leu·ko·sis [lü-'kō-səs] -n

  1. leukemia
  2. any of various leukemic diseases of poultry

leu·kot·o·my [lü-'kä-tə-mē] -n

  1. lobotomy

leu·ko·tri·ene [,lü-kō-'trī-,ēn] -n

  1. any of a group of eicosanoids that participate in allergic responses (as bronchial constriction)

Lev -abbr

  1. Leviticus

lev- -comb form

  1. levorotatory
    • lev ulose
  2. to the left
    • levo rotatory

Le·val·loi·si·an [,le-və-'lȯi-zē-ən, lə-,val-'wä-zē-] -adj

  1. of or relating to a Middle Paleolithic culture characterized by a technique of manufacturing tools by striking flakes from a flint nodule

le·vam·i·sole [lə-'va-mə-,sōl] -n

  1. an anthelmintic drug C 11H 12N 2S administered in the form of its hydrochloride that also possesses immunomodulatory properties and is used esp. in the treatment of colon cancer

le·vant [lə-'vant] -vi

  1. to run away from a debt

le·vant·er [lə-'van-tər] -n

  1. a native or inhabitant of the Levant
  2. a strong easterly Mediterranean wind

Le·vant storax [lə-'vant-] -n

  1. storax

le·va·tor [li-'vā-tər] -n

  1. a muscle that serves to raise a body part

le·vee ['le-vē; lə-'vē, -'vā] -n

  1. a reception held by a person of distinction on rising from bed
  2. an afternoon assembly at which the British sovereign or his or her representative receives only men
  3. a reception usu. in honor of a particular person

lev·ee ['le-vē] -n

  1. an embankment for preventing flooding
  2. a river landing place : pier
  3. a continuous dike or ridge (as of earth) for confining the irrigation areas of land to be flooded
  4. to provide with a levee

lev·el ['le-vəl] -n

  1. a device for establishing a horizontal line or plane by means of a bubble in a liquid that shows adjustment to the horizontal by movement to the center of a slightly bowed glass tube
  2. a measurement of the difference of altitude of two points by means of a level
  3. horizontal condition
  4. equilibrium of a fluid marked by a horizontal surface of even altitude
    • water seeks its own level
  5. an approximately horizontal line or surface taken as an index of altitude
  6. a practically horizontal surface or area (as of land)
  7. a position in a scale or rank (as of achievement, significance, or value)
    • funded at the national level
    • the job appeals to me on many level s
  8. a line or surface that cuts perpendicularly all plumb lines that it meets and hence would everywhere coincide with a surface of still water
  9. the plane of the horizon or a line in it
  10. a horizontal passage in a mine intended for regular working and transportation
  11. a concentration of a constituent esp. of a body fluid (as blood)
  12. the magnitude of a quantity considered in relation to an arbitrary reference value
  13. magnitude, intensity
    • a high level of hostility

level ['le-və-liŋ, 'lev-liŋ] -vb

  1. to make (a line or surface) horizontal : make flat or level
    • level a field
    • level off a house lot
  2. to bring to a horizontal aiming position
  3. aim, direct
    • level ed a charge of fraud
  4. to bring to a common level or plane : equalize
    • love level s all ranks -- W. S. Gilbert
  5. to lay level with or as if with the ground : raze
  6. to knock down
    • level ed him with one punch
  7. to make (as color) even or uniform
  8. to find the heights of different points in (a piece of land) esp. with a surveyor's level
  9. to attain or come to a level
    • the plane level ed off at 10,000 feet
  10. to aim a gun or other weapon horizontally
  11. to bring persons or things to a level
  12. to deal frankly and openly
  13. having no part higher than another : conforming to the curvature of the liquid parts of the earth's surface
  14. parallel with the plane of the horizon : horizontal
  15. even or unvarying in height
  16. equal in advantage, progression, or standing
  17. proceeding monotonously or uneventfully
  18. steady, unwavering
    • gave him a level look
  19. calm, unexcited
    • spoke in level tones
  20. reasonable, balanced
    • arrive at a justly proportional and level judgment on this affair -- Sir Winston Churchill
  21. distributed evenly
    • level stress
  22. being a surface perpendicular to all lines of force in a field of force : equipotential
  23. suited to a particular rank or plane of ability or achievement
    • top- level thinking
  24. of or relating to the spreading out of a cost or charge in even payments over a period of time

level crossing -n

  1. grade crossing

lev·el·er ['le-və-lər, 'lev-lər] -n

  1. one that levels
  2. one of a group of radicals arising during the English Civil War and advocating equality before the law and religious toleration
  3. one favoring the removal of political, social, or economic inequalities
  4. something that tends to reduce or eliminate differences among individuals

lev·el·head·ed [,le-vəl-'he-dəd] -adj, n

  1. having or showing sound judgment : sensible

leveling rod -n

  1. a graduated rod used in measuring the vertical distance between a point on the ground and the line of sight of a surveyor's level

level off -vi

  1. to approach or reach a steady rate, volume, or amount : stabilize
    • expect prices to level off

level of significance

  1. the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when it is true called also significance level

le·ver ['le-vər, 'lē-] -n

  1. a bar used for prying or dislodging something
  2. an inducing or compelling force : tool
    • use food as a political lever -- Time
  3. a rigid piece that transmits and modifies force or motion when forces are applied at two points and it turns about a third
  4. a rigid bar used to exert a pressure or sustain a weight at one point of its length by the application of a force at a second and turning at a third on a fulcrum
  5. a projecting piece by which a mechanism is operated or adjusted

lever ['le-və-riŋ, 'lē-; 'lev-riŋ, 'lēv-] -vt

  1. to pry, raise, or move with or as if with a lever
  2. to operate (a device) in the manner of a lever

le·ver·age ['le-və-rij, 'lē-; 'lev-rij, 'lēv-] -n

  1. the action of a lever or the mechanical advantage gained by it
  2. power, effectiveness
    • trying to gain more political leverage
  3. the use of credit to enhance one's speculative capacity

leverage -vt

  1. to provide (as a corporation) or supplement (as money) with leverage
  2. to enhance as if by supplying with financial leverage
  3. to use for gain : exploit
    • shamelessly leverage the system to their advantage -- Alexander Wolff

lev·er·aged ['le-və-rijd, 'lē-; 'lev-rijd, 'lēv-] -adj

  1. having a high proportion of debt relative to equity
  2. made with borrowed money that is secured by the assets of the company bought
    • a leveraged buyout

lev·er·et ['le-və-rət, 'lev-rət] -n

  1. a hare in its first year

Le·vi ['lē-,vī] -n

  1. a son of Jacob and the traditional eponymous ancestor of the priestly tribe of Levi

levi·able ['le-vē-ə-bəl] -adj

  1. capable of being levied or levied upon

le·vi·a·than [li-'vī-ə-thən] -n, adj

  1. a sea monster defeated by Yahweh in various scriptural accounts
  2. a large sea animal
  3. the political state
  4. a totalitarian state having a vast bureaucracy
  5. something large or formidable

lev·i·gate ['le-və-,gāt] -vt, n

  1. polish, smooth
  2. to grind to a fine smooth powder while in moist condition
  3. to separate (fine powder) from coarser material by suspending in a liquid

lev·in ['le-vən] -n

  1. lightning

le·vi·rate ['le-və-rət, 'lē-, -,rāt] -n, adj

  1. the sometimes compulsory marriage of a widow to a brother of her deceased husband

Le·vi's ['lē-,vīz] -trademark

  1. used esp. for blue denim jeans

lev·i·tate ['le-və-,tāt] -vb

  1. to rise or float in or as if in the air esp. in seeming defiance of gravitation
  2. to cause to levitate

lev·i·ta·tion [,le-və-'tā-shən] -n, adj

  1. the act or process of levitating
  2. the rising or lifting of a person or thing by means held to be supernatural

Le·vite ['lē-,vīt] -n

  1. a member of the priestly Hebrew tribe of Levi
  2. a Levite of non-Aaronic descent assigned to lesser ceremonial offices under the Levitical priests of the family of Aaron

Le·vit·i·cal [li-'vi-ti-kəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to the Levites or to Leviticus

Le·vit·i·cus [-kəs] -n

  1. the third book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture consisting mainly of priestly legislation

lev·i·ty ['le-və-tē] -n

  1. excessive or unseemly frivolity
  2. lack of steadiness : changeableness

le·vo ['lē-(,)vō] -adj

  1. levorotatory

levo·do·pa [,le-və-'dō-pə] -n

  1. l-dopa

le·vo·nor·ges·trel [,lē-və-nȯr-'jes-trəl] -n

  1. the levorotatory form of a synthetic progestin C 21H 28O 2used esp. in oral contraceptives

le·vo·ro·ta·to·ry [-'rō-tə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. turning toward the left or counterclockwise
  2. rotating the plane of polarization of light to the left

lev·u·lose ['lev-yə-,lōs, -,lōz] -n

  1. fructose

levy ['le-vē] -n

  1. the imposition or collection of an assessment
  2. an amount levied
  3. the enlistment or conscription of men for military service
  4. troops raised by levy
  5. to impose or collect by legal authority
    • levy a tax
  6. to require by authority
  7. to enlist or conscript for military service
  8. to carry on (war) : wage
  9. to seize property

lewd ['lüd] -adj, adv, n

  1. evil, wicked
  2. sexually unchaste or licentious
  3. obscene, vulgar

lew·is ['lü-əs] -n

  1. an iron dovetailed tenon that is made in sections, can be fitted into a dovetail mortise, and is used in hoisting large stones

Lew·is acid ['lü-əs-] -n

  1. a substance that is capable of accepting an unshared pair of electrons from a base to form a covalent bond

lew·is·ite ['lü-ə-,sīt] -n

  1. a colorless or brown vesicant liquid C 2H 2AsCl 3developed as a poison gas for war use

lex ['leks] -n

  1. law

lex·eme ['lek-,sēm] -n, adj

  1. a meaningful linguistic unit that is an item in the vocabulary of a language

lex·i·cal ['lek-si-kəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. of or relating to words or the vocabulary of a language as distinguished from its grammar and construction
  2. of or relating to a lexicon or to lexicography

lex·i·cal·i·sa·tion [,lek-si-kə-lə-'zā-shən] -n, vt

(variant of lexicalization)

  1. the realization of a meaning in a single word or morpheme rather than in a grammatical construction
  2. the treatment of a formerly freely composed, grammatically regular, and semantically transparent phrase or inflected form as a formally or semantically idiomatic expression

lex·i·cal·i·za·tion [,lek-si-kə-lə-'zā-shən] -n, vt

  1. the realization of a meaning in a single word or morpheme rather than in a grammatical construction
  2. the treatment of a formerly freely composed, grammatically regular, and semantically transparent phrase or inflected form as a formally or semantically idiomatic expression

lexical meaning -n

  1. the meaning of the base (as the word play) in a paradigm (as plays, played, playing)

lex·i·cog·ra·pher [,lek-sə-'kä-grə-fər] -n

  1. an author or editor of a dictionary

lex·i·cog·ra·phy [,lek-sə-'kä-grə-fē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the editing or making of a dictionary
  2. the principles and practices of dictionary making

lex·i·col·o·gy [,lek-sə-'kä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of linguistics concerned with the signification and application of words

lex·i·con ['lek-sə-,kän also -kən] -n

  1. a book containing an alphabetical arrangement of the words in a language and their definitions : dictionary
  2. the vocabulary of a language, an individual speaker or group of speakers, or a subject
  3. the total stock of morphemes in a language
  4. repertoire, inventory

lex·is ['lek-səs] -n

  1. lexicon

ley ['lē, 'lā] -n

(variant of lea)

  1. grassland, pasture
  2. arable land used temporarily for hay or grazing
  3. leather

Ley·den jar ['lī-dᵊn-] -n

  1. an electrical capacitor consisting of a glass jar coated inside and outside with metal foil and having the inner coating connected to a conducting rod passed through an insulating stopper