ly- -comb form
- degrading : reduction
- dispersed state : dispersion
ly·amhound ['lī-əm-,hau̇nd] -n
- bloodhound
ly·art ['lī-ərt] -adj
- streaked with gray : gray
ly·ase ['lī-,ās, -,āz] -n
- an enzyme (as a decarboxylase) that forms double bonds by removing groups from a substrate other than by hydrolysis or that adds groups to double bonds
ly·can·thro·py [lī-'kan(t)-thrə-pē] -n, adj
- a delusion that one has become a wolf
- the assumption of the form and characteristics of a wolf held to be possible by witchcraft or magic
ly·cee [lē-'sā] -n
- a French public secondary school that prepares students for the university
ly·ce·um [lī-'sē-əm, 'lī-sē-] -n
- a hall for public lectures or discussions
- an association providing public lectures, concerts, and entertainments
- lycee
ly·chee ['lē-(,)chē, 'lī-] -n
- the oval fruit of a Chinese tree ( Litchi chinensis) of the soapberry family having a hard scaly reddish outer covering and sweet whitish edible flesh that surrounds a single large seed called also lychee nut
- a tree bearing lychees
lychgate ['lich-,gāt] -n
- a roofed gate in a churchyard under which a bier rests during the initial part of the burial service
lych·nis ['lik-nəs] -n
- any of a genus ( Lychnis) of north-temperate zone herbs of the pink family with terminal cymes of showy mostly red or white flowers having five or rarely four styles
Ly·cian ['li-sh(ē-)ən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Lycia
- an Anatolian language of the Indo-European language family
ly·co·pene ['lī-kə-,pēn] -n
- a carotenoid pigment C 40H 56that is the red coloring matter of the tomato
ly·co·pod ['lī-kə-,päd] -n
- lycopodium
- club moss
ly·co·po·di·um [,lī-kə-'pō-dē-əm] -n
- any of a large genus ( Lycopodium) of erect or creeping club mosses with reduced or scalelike evergreen leaves
- a fine yellowish flammable powder composed of lycopodium spores and used esp. in pharmacy
Ly·cra ['lī-krə] -trademark
- used for a spandex synthetic fiber
lydd·ite ['li-,dīt] -n
- a high explosive composed chiefly of picric acid
Lyd·i·an ['li-dē-ən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Lydia
- an Anatolian language of the Indo-European language family
lye ['lī] -n
- a strong alkaline liquor rich in potassium carbonate leached from wood ashes and used esp. in making soap and for washing
- a strong alkaline solution (as of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide)
- a solid caustic (as sodium hydroxide)
ly·gus bug ['lī-gəs-] -n
- any of various small sucking bugs (genus Lygus) including some pests of cultivated plants
lying ['lī] -vi, n
(variant of lie)
- to be or to stay at rest in a horizontal position : be prostrate : rest, recline
- to assume a horizontal position often used with down
- to reside temporarily : stay for the night : lodge
- to have sexual intercourse used with with
- to remain inactive (as in concealment)
- to be in a helpless or defenseless state
- the town lay at the mercy of the invaders
- to be or remain in a flat or horizontal position upon a broad support
- to have direction : extend
- the route lay to the west
- to occupy a certain relative place or position
- to have a place in relation to something else
- the real reason lie s deeper
- to have an effect through mere presence, weight, or relative position
- remorse lay heavily on him
- to be sustainable or admissible
- to remain at anchor or becalmed
- to have place : exist
- the choice lay between fighting or surrendering
- consist, belong
- the success of the book lie s in its direct style
- responsibility lay with the adults
- remain
- to remain unused, unsought, or uncared for
- lay
- the position or situation in which something lies
- a golf ball in a difficult lie
- the haunt of an animal (as a fish) : covert
- an act or instance of lying or resting
- to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive
- to create a false or misleading impression
- to bring about by telling lies
- lied his way out of trouble
- an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive
- an untrue or inaccurate statement that may or may not be believed true by the speaker
- something that misleads or deceives
- a charge of lying
ly·ingin [,lī-iŋ-'in] -n
- the state attending and consequent to childbirth : confinement
Lyme disease ['līm-] -n
- an acute inflammatory disease that is caused by a spirochete ( Borrelia burgdorferi) transmitted by ticks (genus Ixodesand esp. I. dammini), that is usu. characterized initially by a spreading red annular erythematous skin lesion and by fatigue, fever, and chills, and that if left untreated may later manifest itself in joint pain, arthritis, and cardiac and neurological disorders called also Lyme
lymph ['lim(p)f] -n
- the sap of plants
- a usu. clear coagulable fluid that passes from intercellular spaces of body tissue into the lymphatic vessels, is discharged into the blood by way of the thoracic duct, and resembles blood plasma in containing white blood cells and esp. lymphocytes but normally few red blood cells and no platelets
lymph- -comb form
- lymph : lymphatic tissue
lymph·ad·e·ni·tis [,lim-,fa-də-'nī-təs] -n
- inflammation of lymph nodes
lymph·ade·nop·a·thy [,lim-,fa-də-'nä-pə-thē] -n
- abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes
lymph·an·gi·og·ra·phy [,lim-,fan-jē-'ä-grə-fē] -n, adj
- X-ray depiction of lymph vessels and nodes after use of a radiopaque material called also lymphography
lym·phat·ic [lim-'fa-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or produced by lymph, lymphoid tissue, or lymphocytes
- conveying lymph
- lacking physical or mental energy : sluggish
lymphatic -n
- a vessel that contains or conveys lymph called also lymph vessel
lymphatic system -n
- the part of the circulatory system that is concerned esp. with scavenging fluids and proteins which have escaped from cells and tissues and returning them to the blood, with the phagocytic removal of cellular debris and foreign material, and with the immune response and that consists esp. of lymphoid tissue, lymph, and lymph-transporting vessels called also lymph system
lymph·ede·ma [,lim(p)-fi-'dē-mə] -n
- edema due to faulty lymphatic drainage
lymph gland -n
- lymph node
lymph node -n
- any of the rounded masses of lymphoid tissue that are surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue, are distributed along the lymphatic vessels, and contain numerous lymphocytes which filter the flow of lymph passing through the node
lym·pho·blast ['lim(p)-fə-,blast] -n, adj
- a lymphocyte that has enlarged following stimulation by an antigen, has the capacity to recognize the stimulating antigen, and is undergoing proliferation and differentiation either to an effector state in which it functions to eliminate the antigen or to a memory state in which it functions to recognize the future reappearance of the antigen
lym·pho·cyte ['lim(p)-fə-,sīt] -n, adj
- any of the colorless weakly motile cells originating from stem cells and differentiating in lymphoid tissue (as of the thymus or bone marrow) that are the typical cellular elements of lymph, include the cellular mediators of immunity, and constitute 20 to 30 percent of the white blood cells of normal human blood
lymphocytic cho·rio·men·in·gi·tis [-,kȯr-ē-ō-,me-nən-'jī-təs] -n
- an acute disease that is caused by an arenavirus (species Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virusof the genus Arenavirus), that is characterized by fever, nausea and vomiting, headache, stiff neck, and slow pulse, that is marked by the presence of numerous lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid, and that is transmitted esp. by rodents
lymphocytic leukemia -n
- leukemia of either of two types marked by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells (as lymphocytes) which accumulate esp. in bone marrow, lymphoid tissue, and circulating blood called also lymphatic leukemia
lym·pho·cy·to·sis [,lim(p)-fə-,sī-'tō-səs, -fə-sə-] -n
- an increase in the number of lymphocytes in the blood usu. associated with chronic infections or inflammations
lym·pho·gran·u·lo·ma ['lim(p)-fō-,gran-yə-'lō-mə] -n
- lymphogranuloma venereum
lymphogranuloma in·gui·na·le [-,iŋ-gwə-'nä-lē, -'na-, -'nā-] -n
- lymphogranuloma venereum
lym·pho·gran·u·lo·ma·to·sis [-,lō-mə-'tō-səs] -n
- the development of benign or malignant nodular swellings of lymph nodes in various parts of the body
- a condition characterized by these
lymphogranuloma ve·ne·re·um [-və-'nir-ē-əm] -n
- a contagious venereal disease caused by various strains of a chlamydia ( Chlamydia trachomatis) that is marked by painful swelling and inflammation of the lymph nodes esp. in the region of the groin
lym·phog·ra·phy [lim-'fä-grə-fē] -n, adj
- lymphangiography
lym·phoid ['lim-,fȯid] -adj
- of, relating to, or being tissue (as of the lymph nodes or thymus) containing lymphocytes
- of, relating to, or resembling lymph
lym·pho·kine ['lim(p)-fə-,kīn] -n
- any of various substances (as interleukin-2) of low molecular weight that are not antibodies, are secreted by T cells in response to stimulation by antigens, and have a role (as the activation of macrophages or the enhancement or inhibition of antibody production) in cell-mediated immunity
lym·pho·ma [lim-'fō-mə] -n, adj
- a usu. malignant tumor of lymphoid tissue
lym·pho·ma·to·sis [(,)lim-,fō-mə-'tō-səs] -n
- the presence of multiple lymphomas in the body
lym·pho·sar·co·ma [,lim(p)-fə-sär-'kō-mə] -n
- a malignant lymphoma that tends to metastasize freely
lynch ['linch] -vt, n
- to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction
lynch law -n
- the punishment of presumed crimes or offenses usu. by death without due process of law
lynchpin ['linch-,pin] -n
(variant of linchpin)
- a locking pin inserted crosswise (as through the end of an axle or shaft)
- one that serves to hold together parts or elements that exist or function as a unit
- the linchpin in the defense's case
lynx ['liŋ(k)s] -n
- : any of several wildcats with relatively long legs, a short stubby tail, mottled coat, and often tufted ears that are thought to comprise a distinct genus ( Lynx) of the cat family or to be part of a genus ( Felis) that includes the domestic cat and cougar as
- a lynx ( L. lynx) of northern Europe and Asia
- bobcat
- a No. American lynx ( L. canadensis) distinguished from the bobcat by its larger size, longer tufted ears, and wholly black tail tip called also Canadian lynx
lynxeyed ['liŋ(k)s-,īd] -adj
- sharp-sighted
ly·on·naise [,lī-ə-'nāz] -adj
- prepared with onions
Ly·on·nesse [,lī-ə-'nes] -n
- a country that according to Arthurian legend was contiguous to Cornwall before sinking beneath the sea
lyo·phile ['lī-ə-,fīl] -adj
- of or relating to freeze-drying
- obtained by freeze-drying
lyo·phil·ic [,lī-ə-'fi-lik] -adj
- marked by strong affinity between a dispersed phase and the liquid in which it is dispersed
ly·oph·i·lise [lī-'ä-fə-,līz] -vt, n
(variant of lyophilize)
- freeze-dry
ly·oph·i·lize [lī-'ä-fə-,līz] -vt, n
- freeze-dry
Ly·ra ['lī-rə] -n
- a northern constellation representing the lyre of Orpheus or Mercury and containing Vega
ly·rate ['lī-,rāt] -adj
- having or suggesting the shape of a lyre
- the lyrate horns of the impala
lyre ['lī(-ə)r] -n
- a stringed instrument of the harp class having an approximately U-shaped frame and used by the ancient Greeks esp. to accompany song and recitation
- lyra
lyre·bird [-,bərd] -n
- either of two Australian passerine birds (genus Menura) distinguished in the male by very long tail feathers displayed in the shape of a lyre during courtship
lyr·ic ['lir-ik] -n
- a lyric composition
- a lyric poem
- the words of a song often used in pl.
lyric -adj
- suitable for singing to the lyre or for being set to music and sung
- of, relating to, or being drama set to music
- operatic
- expressing direct usu. intense personal emotion esp. in a manner suggestive of song
- exuberant, rhapsodic
- having a light voice and a melodic style
lyr·i·cal ['lir-i-kəl] -adj, adv, n
- lyric
lyr·i·cism ['lir-ə-,si-zəm] -n
- the quality or state of being lyric : songfulness
- an intense personal quality expressive of feeling or emotion in an art (as poetry or music)
- exuberance
- the sort of author who inspires lyricism or invective, not judicious interpretation -- Time
lyr·i·cist [-sist] -n
- a writer of lyrics
lyr·ism ['lir-,i-zəm] -n
- lyricism
lyr·ist -n
- a player on the lyre
- lyricist
lys- -comb form
- lysis
ly·sate ['lī-,sāt] -n
- a product of lysis
lyse ['līs, 'līz] -vb
- to cause to undergo lysis
- to undergo lysis
Ly·sen·ko·ism [lə-'seŋ-kō-,i-zəm] -n
- a biological doctrine asserting the fundamental influence of somatic and environmental factors on heredity in contradiction of orthodox genetics
ly·ser·gic acid [lə-'sər-jik-, (,)lī-] -n
- a crystalline acid C 16H 16N 2O 2from ergotic alkaloids
- lsd
lysergic acid di·eth·yl·am·ide [-,dī-,e-thə-'la-,mīd] -n
- lsd
ly·sim·e·ter [lī-'si-mə-tər] -n, adj
- a device for measuring the percolation of water through soils and for determining the soluble constituents removed in the drainage
ly·sin ['lī-sᵊn] -n
- a substance (as an antibody) capable of causing lysis
ly·sine ['lī-,sēn] -n
- a crystalline essential amino acid C 6H 14N 2O 2obtained from the hydrolysis of various proteins
ly·sis ['lī-səs] -n
- the gradual decline of a disease process (as fever)
- a process of disintegration or dissolution (as of cells)
ly·so·gen ['lī-sə-jən] -n
- a lysogenic bacterium or bacterial strain
ly·so·gen·ic [,lī-sə-'je-nik] -adj, n
- harboring a prophage as hereditary material
- temperate
ly·sog·e·nise [lī-'sä-jə-,nīz] -vt, n
(variant of lysogenize)
- to render lysogenic
ly·sog·e·nize [lī-'sä-jə-,nīz] -vt, n
- to render lysogenic
ly·sog·e·ny [lī-'sä-jə-nē] -n
- the state of being lysogenic
ly·so·lec·i·thin [,lī-sə-'le-sə-thən] -n
- a hydrolytic substance formed by the enzymatic hydrolysis (as by some snake venoms) of a lecithin
ly·so·some ['lī-sə-,sōm] -n, adj
- a saclike cellular organelle that contains various hydrolytic enzymes
ly·so·zyme ['lī-sə-,zīm] -n
- a basic bacteriolytic protein that hydrolyzes peptidoglycan and is present in egg white and in human tears and saliva
lyt·ic ['li-tik] -adj, adv
- of or relating to lysis or a lysin
- productive of or effecting lysis (as of cells)