Lu -symbol

  1. lutetium

lu·au ['lü-,au̇] -n

  1. a Hawaiian feast

Lu·ba·vitch·er ['lü-bə-,vi-chər, lü-'bä-] -n, adj

  1. a member of a Hasidic sect founded by Schneour Zalman of Lyady in the late 18th century

lub·ber ['lə-bər] -n, adj or adv

  1. a big clumsy fellow
  2. a clumsy seaman

lubber line -n

  1. a fixed line on the compass of a ship or airplane that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle

lubber's hole -n

  1. a hole in a square-rigger's top near the mast through which one may go farther aloft without going over the rim by the futtock shrouds

lube ['lüb] -n

  1. lubricant
  2. an application of a lubricant : lubrication

lu·bric ['lü-brik] -adj

  1. lubricious

lu·bri·cant ['lü-bri-kənt] -n, adj

  1. a substance (as grease) capable of reducing friction, heat, and wear when introduced as a film between solid surfaces
  2. something that lessens or prevents friction or difficulty
    • a social lubricant

lu·bri·cate ['lü-brə-,kāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to make smooth or slippery
  2. to apply a lubricant to
  3. to act as a lubricant

lu·bri·cious [lü-'bri-shəs] -adj, adv

  1. marked by wantonness : lecherous
  2. salacious
  3. having a smooth or slippery quality
    • a lubricious skin

lu·bric·i·ty [lü-'bri-sə-tē] -n

  1. the property or state of being lubricious
  2. the capacity for reducing friction

Lu·can ['lü-kən] -adj

  1. of or relating to Luke or the Gospel ascribed to him

lu·carne [lü-'kärn] -n

  1. dormer

Lu·ca·yo [lü-'kī-(,)ō] -n

  1. a member of an Arawakan people of the Bahamas

lu·cen·cy ['lü-sᵊn(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being lucent

lu·cent ['lü-sᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. glowing with light : luminous
  2. marked by clarity or translucence : clear

lu·cern -n

  1. lynx

lu·cerne [lü-'sərn] -n

  1. alfalfa

lu·cid ['lü-səd] -adj, adv, n

  1. suffused with light : luminous
  2. translucent
    • snorkeling in the lucid sea
  3. having full use of one's faculties : sane
  4. clear to the understanding : intelligible

lu·cid·i·ty [lü-'si-də-tē] -n

  1. clearness of thought or style
  2. a presumed capacity to perceive the truth directly and instantaneously : clairvoyance

Lu·ci·fer ['lü-sə-fər] -n, adj

  1. used as a name of the devil
  2. the planet Venus when appearing as the morning star
  3. a friction match having as active substances antimony sulfide and potassium chlorate

lu·cif·er·ase [lü-'si-fə-,rās, -,rāz] -n

  1. an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of luciferin

lu·cif·er·in [-f(ə-)rən] -n

  1. any of various organic substances in luminescent organisms (as fireflies) that upon oxidation produce a virtually heatless light

lu·cif·er·ous [lü-'si-f(ə-)rəs] -adj

  1. bringing light or insight : illuminating
    • a luciferous performance of the opera

Lu·ci·na [lü-'sī-nə] -n

  1. midwife

Lu·cite ['lü-,sīt] -trademark

  1. used for an acrylic resin or plastic consisting essentially of polymerized methyl methacrylate

luck ['lək] -n, adj

  1. a force that brings good fortune or adversity
  2. the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual
  3. favoring chance
  4. success
    • had great luck growing orchids
  5. to prosper or succeed esp. through chance or good fortune usu. used with out
    • the hero luck s out and is able to escape
  6. to come upon something desirable by chance usu. used with out, on, onto, or into
    • luck ed into a wonderful opportunity

luck·i·ly ['lə-kə-lē] -adv

  1. in a lucky manner
  2. fortunately
    • luckily, we were on time

lucky ['lə-kē] -adj, n

  1. having good luck
  2. happening by chance : fortuitous
  3. producing or resulting in good by chance : favorable
  4. seeming to bring good luck
    • a lucky rabbit's foot

lucky dip -n

  1. grab bag

lu·cra·tive ['lü-krə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. producing wealth : profitable

lu·cre ['lü-kər] -n

  1. monetary gain : profit
    • wrote almost entirely for lucre
  2. money

lu·cu·bra·tion [,lü-kyə-'brā-shən, ,lü-kə-] -n

  1. laborious or intensive study
  2. the product of such study usu. used in pl.

lu·cu·lent ['lü-kyə-lənt] -adj, adv

  1. clear in thought or expression : lucid
    • the interviewee was luculent and personable

Lu·cul·lan [lü-'kə-lən] -adj

  1. lavish, luxurious
    • a Lucullan feast

Ludd·ite ['lə-,dīt] -n, adj

  1. one of a group of early 19th century English workmen destroying laborsaving machinery as a protest
  2. one who is opposed to esp. technological change

lude ['lüd] -n

  1. a pill of methaqualone usu. used in pl.

lu·dic ['lü-dik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by play : playful
    • ludic behavior
    • a ludic novel

lu·di·crous ['lü-də-krəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. amusing or laughable through obvious absurdity, incongruity, exaggeration, or eccentricity
  2. meriting derisive laughter or scorn as absurdly inept, false, or foolish

lu·es ['lü-(,)ēz] -n, adj

  1. syphilis

luff ['ləf] -n

  1. the act of sailing a ship nearer the wind
  2. the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail
  3. to turn the head of a ship toward the wind

luffa ['lü-fə] -n

(variant of loofah)

  1. any of a genus ( Luffa) of Old World tropical plants of the gourd family with large fruits
  2. its fruit
  3. a sponge consisting of the fibrous skeleton of the fruit of a loofah (esp. Luffa aegyptiaca)

luft·mensch ['lu̇ft-,men(t)sh] -n

  1. an impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income

lug ['ləg] -vb

  1. drag, pull
  2. to carry laboriously
    • lugged the bags to the car
  3. to introduce in a forced manner
    • lug s my name into the argument
  4. to pull with effort : tug
  5. to move heavily or by jerks
    • the car lug s on hills
  6. to swerve from the course toward or away from the inside rail
  7. an act of lugging
  8. something that is lugged
  9. a shipping container for produce
  10. lugsail
  11. superior airs or affectations
    • put on lug s
  12. an exaction of money used in the phrase put the lug on
  13. : something (as a handle) that projects like an ear: as
  14. a leather loop on a harness saddle through which the shaft passes
  15. a metal fitting to which electrical wires are soldered or connected
  16. ear
  17. a ridge (as on the bottom of a shoe) to increase traction
  18. a nut used to secure a wheel on an automotive vehicle called also lug nut
  19. a big clumsy fellow
  20. an ordinary commonplace person

Lu·gan·da [lü-'gän-də, -'gan-] -n

  1. the Bantu language of the Ganda people

luge ['lüzh] -n, vi

  1. a small sled that is ridden in a supine position and used esp. in competition
  2. the competition itself

lug·gage ['lə-gij] -n

  1. something that is lugged
  2. suitcases for a traveler's belongings : baggage

lug·ger ['lə-gər] -n

  1. a small fishing or coasting boat that carries one or more lugsails

lug·sail ['ləg-,sāl, -səl] -n

  1. a 4-sided sail bent to an obliquely hanging yard that is hoisted and lowered with the sail

lu·gu·bri·ous [lu̇-'gü-brē-əs also -'gyü-] -adj, adv, n

  1. mournful
  2. exaggeratedly or affectedly mournful
    • dark, dramatic and lugubrious brooding -- V. S. Pritchett
  3. dismal
    • a lugubrious landscape

lug·worm ['ləg-,wərm] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Arenicola) of marine polychaete worms that have a row of tufted gills along each side of the back and are used for bait

Luke ['lük] -n

  1. a Gentile physician and companion of the apostle Paul traditionally identified as the author of the third Gospel in the New Testament and of the book of Acts
  2. the third Gospel in the New Testament

luke·warm ['lük-'wȯrm] -adj, adv, n

  1. moderately warm : tepid
  2. lacking conviction : halfhearted
    • gave them only lukewarm support

lull ['ləl] -vt

  1. to cause to sleep or rest : soothe
  2. to cause to relax vigilance
    • were lull ed into a false sense of security
  3. something that lulls
  4. lullaby
  5. : a temporary pause or decline in activity
    • the early-morning lull in urban noise
    : as
  6. a temporary calm before or during a storm
  7. a temporary drop in business activity

lul·la·by ['lə-lə-,bī] -n

  1. a soothing refrain
  2. a song to quiet children or lull them to sleep

lullaby -vt

  1. to quiet with or as if with a lullaby

lu·lu ['lü-(,)lü] -n

  1. one that is remarkable or wonderful
    • a lulu of a performance

lum ['ləm] -n

  1. chimney

lu·ma [,lü-'mä] -n

  1. see dram at

lum·ba·go [,ləm-'bā-(,)gō] -n

  1. acute or chronic pain (as that caused by muscle strain) in the lower back

lum·bar ['ləm-bər, -,bär] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting the loins or the vertebrae between the thoracic vertebrae and sacrum
    • lumbar region

lumbar puncture -n

  1. puncture of the subarachnoid space in the lumbar region of the spinal cord to withdraw cerebrospinal fluid or inject anesthetic drugs

lum·ber ['ləm-bər] -vi

  1. to move ponderously
  2. rumble

lumber -n, adj

  1. surplus or disused articles (as furniture) that are stored away
  2. timber or logs esp. when dressed for use
  3. any of various structural materials prepared in a form similar to lumber
  4. to clutter with or as if with lumber : encumber
    • plan to lumber the tiny town with a giant ski resort -- Marilyn Stasio
  5. to heap together in disorder
  6. to log and saw the timber of
  7. to cut logs for lumber
  8. to saw logs into lumber for the market

lum·ber·jack ['ləm-bər-,jak] -n

  1. logger

lum·ber·man [-mən] -n

  1. a person who is engaged in or oversees the business of cutting, processing, and marketing lumber

lumber room -n

  1. storeroom

lum·ber·yard [-,yärd] -n

  1. a yard where a stock of lumber is kept for sale

lum·bo·sa·cral [,ləm-bō-'sa-krəl, -'sā-] -adj

  1. relating to the lumbar and sacral regions or parts

lu·men ['lü-mən] -n, adj

  1. the cavity of a tubular organ or part
    • the lumen of a blood vessel
  2. the bore of a tube (as of a hollow needle or catheter)
  3. a unit of luminous flux equal to the light emitted in a unit solid angle by a uniform point source of one candle intensity

lumin- -comb form

  1. light
    • lumini ferous

lu·mi·naire [,lü-mə-'ner] -n

  1. a complete lighting unit

lu·mi·nance ['lü-mə-nən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being luminous
  2. the luminous intensity of a surface in a given direction per unit of projected area

lu·mi·nar·ia [,lü-mə-'ner-ē-ə] -n

  1. a traditional Mexican Christmas lantern orig. consisting of a candle set in sand inside a paper bag

lu·mi·nary ['lü-mə-,ner-ē] -n, adj

  1. a person of prominence or brilliant achievement
  2. a body that gives light
  3. one of the celestial bodies

lu·mi·nesce [,lü-mə-'nes] -vi

  1. to exhibit luminescence

lu·mi·nes·cence [-'ne-sᵊn(t)s] -n, adj

  1. the low-temperature emission of light (as by a chemical or physiological process)
  2. light produced by luminescence

lu·mi·nif·er·ous [,lü-mə-'ni-f(ə-)rəs] -adj

  1. transmitting, producing, or yielding light

lu·mi·nism ['lü-mə-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj

  1. a theory or practice of realist landscape and seascape painting developed in the U.S. in the mid-19th century and concerned with the study and depiction of effects of light and atmosphere

lu·mi·nos·i·ty [,lü-mə-'nä-sə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being luminous
  2. something luminous
  3. the relative quantity of light
  4. relative brightness of something
  5. the relative quantity of radiation emitted by a celestial source (as a star)

lu·mi·nous ['lü-mə-nəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. emitting or reflecting usu. steady, suffused, or glowing light
  2. of or relating to light or to luminous flux
  3. bathed in or exposed to steady light
    • luminous with sunlight
  4. clear, enlightening
  5. shining, illustrious
    • a luminous film star
    • a luminous performance

luminous energy -n

  1. energy transferred in the form of visible radiation

luminous flux -n

  1. radiant flux in the visible-wavelength range usu. expressed in lumens instead of watts

luminous paint -n

  1. a paint containing a phosphor (as zinc sulfide activated with copper) and so able to glow in the dark

lum·mox ['lə-məks, -miks] -n

  1. a clumsy person

lump ['ləmp] -n

  1. a piece or mass of indefinite size and shape
  2. aggregate, totality
    • taken in the lump
  3. majority
  4. protuberance
  5. an abnormal swelling
  6. a person who is heavy and awkward
  7. one who is stupid or dull
  8. beatings, bruises
    • had taken a lot of lump s growing up in the city
  9. defeat, loss
    • can cheerfully take his lump s on losers, because the payout is big on the winners -- Martin Mayer
  10. to group indiscriminately
  11. to make into lumps
  12. to make lumps on or in
  13. to move noisily and clumsily
  14. to become formed into lumps
  15. to move oneself noisily and clumsily
  16. not divided into parts : entire
    • a lump sum
  17. to put up with
    • like it or lump it

lump·ec·to·my [,ləm-'pek-tə-mē] -n

  1. excision of a breast tumor with a limited amount of associated tissue

lum·pen ['lu̇m-pən, 'ləm-] -adj

  1. of or relating to dispossessed and uprooted individuals cut off from the economic and social class with which they might normally be identified
    • lumpen proletariat
    • lumpen intellectuals
  2. plebeian

lumpen -n

  1. a member of the crude and uneducated lowest class of society

lump·er ['ləm-pər] -n

  1. a laborer who handles freight or cargo
  2. one who classifies organisms into large often variable taxonomic groups based on major characters

lump·fish ['ləmp-,fish] -n

  1. a northern Atlantic usu. greenish fish ( Cyclopterus lumpusof the family Cyclopteridae) having rows of nodules on the body and eggs used as a caviar

lump·ish ['ləm-pish] -adj, adv, n

  1. dull, sluggish
  2. low in spirits
  3. heavy, awkward
  4. lumpy
  5. tediously slow or dull : boring
  6. lumpy

lumpy ['ləm-pē] -adj, adv, n

  1. filled or covered with lumps
  2. characterized by choppy waves
  3. having a heavy clumsy appearance
  4. uneven and often crude in style

lumpy jaw -n

  1. actinomycosis
  2. actinomycosis of the head in cattle

lu·na·cy ['lü-nə-sē] -n

  1. insanity
  2. intermittent insanity once believed to be related to phases of the moon
  3. wild foolishness : extravagant folly
  4. a foolish act

lu·na moth ['lü-nə-] -n

  1. a large mostly pale green American saturniid moth ( Actias luna) with long tails on the hind wings

lu·nar ['lü-nər also -,när] -adj

  1. crescent, lunate
  2. of, relating to, or resembling the moon
    • lunar craters
    • a lunar landscape
  3. designed for use on the moon
    • lunar vehicles
  4. measured by the moon's revolution
    • lunar month

lunar caustic -n

  1. silver nitrate esp. when fused and molded into sticks for use as a caustic

lunar eclipse -n

  1. an eclipse in which the full moon passes partially or wholly through the umbra of the earth's shadow

lunar module -n

  1. a space vehicle module designed to carry astronauts from the command module to the surface of the moon and back called also lunar excursion module

lu·nate ['lü-,nāt] -adj

  1. shaped like a crescent

lu·na·tic ['lü-nə-,tik] -adj, n

  1. affected with lunacy : insane
  2. designed for the care of insane persons
    • lunatic asylum
  3. wildly foolish
    • a lunatic idea

lunatic fringe -n

  1. the members of a usu. political or social movement espousing extreme, eccentric, or fanatical views

lu·na·tion [lü-'nā-shən] -n

  1. the period of time averaging 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.8 seconds elapsing between two successive new moons

lunch ['lənch] -n

  1. a usu. light meal
  2. one taken in the middle of the day
  3. the food prepared for a lunch
  4. to eat lunch
  5. to treat to lunch

lunchbuck·et ['lənch-,bə-kət] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or possessing working-class values : blue-collar
    • lunchbucket issues
    • a lunchbucket athlete

lunch counter -n

  1. a long counter at which lunches are sold
  2. luncheonette

lun·cheon ['lən-chən] -n

  1. lunch
  2. a formal usu. midday meal as part of a meeting or for entertaining a guest

lun·cheon·ette [,lən-chə-'net] -n

  1. a small restaurant serving light lunches

lunch·room ['lənch-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n

  1. luncheonette
  2. a room (as in a school) where lunches supplied on the premises or brought from home may be eaten

lunch·time [-,tīm] -n

  1. the time at which lunch is usu. eaten : noon

lune ['lün] -n

  1. the part of a plane surface bounded by two intersecting arcs or of a spherical surface bounded by two great circles

lunes ['lünz] -n pl

  1. fits of lunacy

lu·nette [lü-'net] -n

  1. : something that has the shape of a crescent or half-moon: as
  2. an opening in a vault esp. for a window
  3. the surface at the upper part of a wall that is partly surrounded by a vault which the wall intersects and that is often filled by windows or by mural painting
  4. a low crescentic mound (as of sand) formed by the wind
  5. the figure or shape of a crescent moon

lung ['ləŋ] -n

  1. one of the usu. paired compound saccular thoracic organs that constitute the basic respiratory organ of air-breathing vertebrates
  2. any of various respiratory organs of invertebrates
  3. a device enabling individuals abandoning a submarine to rise to the surface
  4. a mechanical device for regularly introducing fresh air into and withdrawing stale air from the lung : respirator

lunge ['lənj] -n

  1. a quick thrust or jab (as of a sword) usu. made by leaning or striding forward
  2. a sudden forward rush or reach
    • made a lunge to catch the ball
  3. to make a lunge : move with or as if with a lunge
  4. to thrust or propel (as a blow) in a lunge

lunged ['ləŋd] -adj

  1. having lungs : pulmonate
  2. having a lung or lungs of a specified kind or number used in combination
    • one- lunged

lung·er ['lən-jər] -n

  1. one that lunges
  2. a person suffering from a chronic disease of the lungs
  3. one who is tubercular

lung·fish ['ləŋ-,fish] -n

  1. any of an order (Dipnoi) of bony fishes that breathe by a modified swim bladder as well as gills

lung·worm [-,wərm] -n

  1. any of various nematodes that infest the lungs and air passages of mammals

lung·wort [-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n

  1. any of several plants (as a mullein) formerly used in the treatment of respiratory disorders
  2. a European herb ( Pulmonaria officinalis) of the borage family with hispid leaves and usu. bluish flowers

lu·ni·so·lar [,lü-ni-'sō-lər also -,lär] -adj

  1. relating or attributed to the moon and the sun

lun·ker ['ləŋ-kər] -n

  1. something large of its kind used esp. of a game fish

lunk·head ['ləŋk-,hed] -n, adj

  1. a stupid person : dolt

lu·nule ['lü-(,)nyül] -n

  1. a crescent-shaped body part or marking (as the whitish mark at the base of a fingernail)

lu·pa·nar [lü-'pā-nər, -'pä-] -n

  1. bordello

Lu·per·ca·lia [,lü-pər-'kā-lē-ə, -'kāl-yə] -n, adj

  1. an ancient Roman festival celebrated February 15 to ensure fertility for the people, fields, and flocks

lu·pine ['lü-pən] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Lupinus) of leguminous herbs including some poisonous forms and others cultivated for their long showy racemes of usu. blue, purple, white, or yellow flowers or for green manure, fodder, or their edible seeds
  2. an edible lupine seed
  3. wolfish

lu·pus ['lü-pəs] -n

  1. any of several diseases characterized by skin lesions
  2. systemic lupus erythematosus

lupus er·y·the·ma·to·sus [-,er-ə-,thē-mə-'tō-səs] -n

  1. a disorder characterized by skin inflammation
  2. systemic lupus erythematosus

lurch ['lərch] -vb

  1. to loiter about a place furtively : prowl
  2. steal
  3. cheat
  4. a decisive defeat in which an opponent wins a game by more than double the defeated player's score esp. in cribbage
  5. to leave in the lurch
  6. to defeat by a lurch (as in cribbage)
  7. a sudden roll of a ship to one side
  8. an abrupt jerking, swaying, or tipping movement
    • the car moved forward with a lurch
  9. stagger
  10. to roll or tip abruptly : pitch
  11. to move with a lurch
    • suddenly lurch ed forward
  12. stagger
    • has lurch ed from crisis to crisis -- Jere Longman

lurch·er ['lər-chər] -n

  1. a petty thief : pilferer
  2. a crossbred dog
  3. one that resembles a greyhound
  4. one who lurks
  5. spy

lur·dane ['lər-dᵊn] -n, adj

  1. a lazy stupid person

lure ['lu̇r] -n

  1. an object usu. of leather or feathers attached to a long cord and used by a falconer to recall or exercise a hawk
  2. an inducement to pleasure or gain : enticement
  3. appeal, attraction
  4. : a decoy for attracting animals to capture: as
  5. artificial bait used for catching fish
  6. an often luminous structure on the head of pediculate fishes that is used to attract prey
  7. to recall or exercise (a hawk) by means of a lure
  8. to draw with a hint of pleasure or gain : attract actively and strongly

Lur·ex ['lu̇r-eks] -trademark

  1. used for metallic yarn or thread

lu·rid ['lu̇r-əd] -adj, adv, n

  1. causing horror or revulsion : gruesome
  2. melodramatic, sensational
  3. shocking
    • paperbacks in the usual lurid covers -- T. R. Fyvel
  4. wan and ghastly pale in appearance
  5. of any of several light or medium grayish colors ranging in hue from yellow to orange
  6. shining with the red glow of fire seen through smoke or cloud

lurk ['lərk] -vi, n

  1. to lie in wait in a place of concealment esp. for an evil purpose
  2. to move furtively or inconspicuously
  3. to persist in staying
  4. to be concealed but capable of being discovered
  5. to constitute a latent threat
  6. to lie hidden
  7. to read messages on an Internet discussion forum (as a newsgroup or chat room) without contributing

lus·cious ['lə-shəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. having a delicious taste or smell : sweet
  2. excessively sweet : cloying
  3. sexually attractive : seductive, sexy
  4. richly luxurious or appealing to the senses
  5. excessively ornate

lush ['ləsh] -adj, adv, n

  1. growing vigorously esp. with luxuriant foliage
    • lush grass
  2. : lavishly productive: as
  3. fertile
  4. thriving
  5. characterized by abundance : plentiful
  6. prosperous, profitable
  7. savory, delicious
  8. appealing to the senses
    • the lush sounds of the orchestra
  9. opulent, sumptuous
    • lush accommodations
  10. intoxicating liquor : drink
  11. a habitual heavy drinker : drunkard
  12. drink

Lu·so- [,lü-(,)sō] -comb form

  1. Portuguese and
    • Luso- Brazilian

lust ['ləst] -n

  1. pleasure, delight
  2. personal inclination : wish
  3. usu. intense or unbridled sexual desire : lasciviousness
  4. an intense longing : craving
    • a lust to succeed
  5. enthusiasm, eagerness
    • admired his lust for life
  6. to have an intense desire or need : crave
  7. to have a sexual urge

lus·ter ['ləs-tər] -n

  1. a period of five years : lustrum

luster [-tər-ləs] -n, adj

  1. a glow of reflected light : sheen
  2. the appearance of the surface of a mineral dependent upon its reflecting qualities
  3. a glow of light from within : luminosity
  4. an inner beauty : radiance
  5. a superficial attractiveness or appearance of excellence
  6. a glass pendant used esp. to ornament a candlestick or chandelier
  7. a decorative object (as a chandelier) hung with glass pendants
  8. a fabric with cotton warp and a filling of wool, mohair, or alpaca
  9. lusterware
  10. to have luster : gleam
  11. to give luster or distinction to
  12. to coat or treat with a substance that imparts luster

lus·ter·ware ['ləs-tər-,wer] -n

  1. pottery with an iridescent metallic sheen in the glaze

lust·ful ['ləst-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. excited by lust : lecherous

lust·i·hood ['ləs-tē-,hu̇d] -n

  1. vigor of body or spirit : robustness
  2. sexual inclination or capacity

lus·tral ['ləs-trəl] -adj

  1. purificatory

lus·trate ['ləs-,trāt] -vt, n

  1. to purify ceremonially

lus·tring ['ləs-triŋ] -n

  1. lutestring
  2. a finishing process (as calendering) for giving a gloss to yarns and cloth

lus·trous ['ləs-trəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. reflecting light evenly and efficiently without glitter or sparkle
    • a lustrous satin
    • the lustrous glow of an opal
  2. radiant in character or reputation : illustrious

lus·trum ['ləs-trəm] -n

  1. a period of five years
  2. a purification of the whole Roman people made in ancient times after the census every five years
  3. the Roman census

lusty ['ləs-tē] -adj, adv, n

  1. merry, joyous
  2. lustful
    • lusty passion
  3. full of strength and vitality : healthy, vigorous
    • a young, lusty, growing country -- Helen Harris
  4. hearty, robust
    • a lusty beef stew
  5. enthusiastic, rousing
    • a lusty rendition of the song

lute ['lüt] -n

  1. a stringed instrument having a large pear-shaped body, a vaulted back, a fretted fingerboard, and a head with tuning pegs which is often angled backward from the neck
  2. to seal or cover (as a joint or surface) with lute
  3. a substance (as cement or clay) for packing a joint or coating a porous surface to make it impervious to gas or liquid

lute- -comb form

  1. corpus luteum
    • lute al

lu·te·al ['lü-tē-əl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving the corpus luteum or its formation
    • the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle

lute·fisk ['lüt-,fisk, 'lü-tə-] -n

  1. dried codfish that has been soaked in a water and lye solution before cooking

lu·tein ['lü-tē-ən, 'lü-,tēn] -n

  1. an orange xanthophyll C 40H 56O 2occurring in plants, animal fat, egg yolk, and the corpus luteum

lu·tein·i·za·tion [,lü-tē-ə-nə-'zā-shən, ,lü-,tē-nə-] -n, vb

  1. the process of forming corpora lutea

luteinizing hormone -n

  1. a hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that in the female stimulates ovulation and the development of corpora lutea and in the male the development of interstitial tissue in the testis

luteinizing hormonereleasing factor -n

  1. gonadotropin-releasing hormone

luteinizing hormonereleasing hormone -n

  1. gonadotropin-releasing hormone

lu·te·nist ['lü-tə-nist, 'lüt-nist] -n

  1. a lute player

lu·teo·tro·pic [,lü-tē-ə-'trō-pik, -'trä-] -adj

  1. acting on the corpora lutea

luteotropic hormone -n

  1. prolactin

lu·teo·tro·pin [,lü-tē-ə-'trō-pən] -n

  1. prolactin

lu·te·ous ['lü-tē-əs] -adj

  1. yellow tinged with green or brown

lute·string ['lüt-(,)striŋ] -n

  1. a plain glossy silk formerly much used for women's dresses and ribbons

lu·te·tium [lü-'tē-sh(ē-)əm] -n

  1. a metallic element of the rare-earth group

Lu·ther·an ['lü-th(ə-)rən] -n

  1. a member of a Lutheran church

Lutheran [-rə-,ni-zəm] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to religious doctrines (as justification by faith alone) developed by Martin Luther or his followers
  2. of or relating to the Protestant churches adhering to Lutheran doctrines, liturgy, and polity

lu·thi·er ['lü-tē-ər, -thē-ər] -n

  1. one who makes stringed musical instruments (as violins or guitars)

lutz ['ləts] -n

  1. a backward figure-skating jump with a takeoff from the outside edge of one skate followed by a full turn in the air and a landing on the outside edge of the other skate

Lu·wi·an ['lü-ē-ən] -n, adj

  1. an Anatolian language of the Indo-European language family

lux ['ləks] -n

  1. a unit of illumination equal to the direct illumination on a surface that is everywhere one meter from a uniform point source of one candle intensity or equal to one lumen per square meter

lux·a·tion [,lək-'sā-shən] -n

  1. dislocation of an anatomical part (as a bone at a joint or the lens of the eye)

luxe ['lu̇ks, 'ləks, 'lüks] -adj, n

  1. luxurious, sumptuous

lux·u·ri·ance [(,)ləg-'zhu̇r-ē-ən(t)s, (,)lək-'shu̇r-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being luxuriant

lux·u·ri·ant [-ē-ənt] -adj, adv

  1. yielding abundantly : fertile, fruitful
  2. characterized by abundant growth : lush
    • luxuriant vegetation
  3. abundantly and often extravagantly rich and varied : prolific
  4. characterized by luxury : luxurious
    • a luxuriant fabric

lux·u·ri·ate [-ē-,āt] -vi

  1. to grow profusely : thrive
  2. to develop extensively
  3. to indulge oneself luxuriously : revel

lux·u·ri·ous [(,)ləg-'zhu̇r-ē-əs, (,)lək-'shu̇r-] -adj, adv, n

  1. lecherous
  2. marked by or given to self-indulgence
    • luxurious tastes
    • luxurious feeling
  3. of, relating to, or marked by luxury
    • luxurious accommodations
  4. of the finest and richest kind
    • luxurious cashmeres
    • a luxurious chocolate sauce

lux·u·ry ['lək-sh(ə-)rē, -zh(ə-)rē] -n, adj

  1. lechery, lust
  2. a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort : sumptuous environment
    • lived in luxury
  3. something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary
    • one of life's luxuries
  4. an indulgence in something that provides pleasure, satisfaction, or ease
    • had the luxury of rejecting a handful of job offers -- Terri Minsky

luxury box -n

  1. skybox