Koopmans (ku:p´mэnz), Tjal·ling Charles (chä´liŋ) 1910-85; U.S. economist, born in the Netherlands

Kootenay (ku:t´ªn ei') 1 river flowing from SE British Columbia, through Mont. & Ida. into Kootenay Lake, thence into the Columbia River: 407 mi. (655 km) 2 elongated lake in the valley of this river, SE British Columbia: 168 sq. mi. (435 sq. km) •n. alt. sp. of KUTENAI Also, in the U.S., sp. Koo´te·nai' for the river & for the n. [< a native name < ?]

kop (käp) •n. in South Africa, a hill or mountain [Afrik < Du kop, head: see COP¹] kop abbrev. kopeck

kopeck or kopek (kou´pek') •n. a monetary unit of various countries, equal to ¹/100 of a ruble: abbrev. k or kop [Russ kopyejka < kopye, a lance: so named from the lance held by czar represented on the coin]

koph (köf) •n. the nineteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ק) [Heb qōph]

kopje (käp´i:) •n. in South Africa, a small hill; hillock [Afrik, dim. of kop: see KOP]

kor (kör) •n. HOMER¹ [Heb kōr]

Koran (kэ ræn´, -rän´; kör´æn', -än') the sacred book of Islam: in Muslim belief, it contains revelations made to Mohammed by Allah Ko·ran´ic •adj. [Ar qur'ān, lit., book, reading, recitation < qara'a, to read]

korat (kou rät´, kör´ät') •n. any of a breed of domestic cat with a glossy, silver-blue coat and large, round, greenish eyes

Kordofan (kör'dэ fän´) region of central Sudan, west & south of Khartoum: 56,731 sq. mi. (146,932 sq. km); pop. 3,093,000; chief city, El Obeid

Kordofanian (kör'dэ fæn´i: эn) •n. a subfamily of the Congo-Kordofanian family of languages [< prec.]

Korea (kэ ri:´э, kö-) peninsula & country in E Asia, extending south from NE China: divided (1948) into a) Korean People's Democratic Republic (North Korea) occupying the N half of the peninsula: 46,768 sq. mi. (121,129 sq. km); pop. 20,543,000; cap. Pyongyang, and b) Republic of Korea (South Korea) occupying the S half of the peninsula: 38,030 sq. mi. (98,500 sq. km); pop. 43,285,000; cap. Seoul: war (1950-53) between the two countries ended in a cease-fire & reaffirmation of the division

Korea Strait strait between Korea & Japan, connecting the Sea of Japan & the East China Sea: c. 110 mi. (177 km) wide

Korean (-эn) •adj. of Korea, its people, or their language or culture •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Korea 2 the language of the Koreans

Korinthos (kô´ři:n θôs') Gr. name of modern CORINTH

Koriyama (kör'i: yäm´э) city in NC Honshu, Japan: pop. 293,000

Kornberg (körn´børg'), Arthur 1918- ; U.S. biochemist

Korsakoff's psychosis (or syndrome) (kör´sэ köfs') a severe mental disorder caused by damage to the nervous system from alcohol, vitamin deficiencies, etc., characterized by multiple neuritis, memory loss, disorientation, etc. [after S. S. Korsakoff (c. 1854-1900), Russ neurologist]

Kortrijk (kört´raik') Fl. name of COURTRAI

koruna (kö´ru: nэ) pl. ko´ru·nas or ko´run' (-ru:n') •n. the basic monetary unit of Czech Republic and Slovakia: see MONEY, table [Czech, lit., crown < L corona: see CROWN]

Korzybski (kör zip´ski:), Alfred (Habdank) 1879-1950; U.S. semanticist, born in Poland

kos (kous) pl. kos •n. in India, a unit of linear measure varying from 1.5 to 3 miles [Hindi < Sans krósa-, lit., a shout (hence, lit., shouting distance) < IE *korau- < base *ker- > L corvus, RAVEN¹] Kos (käs, kös) Greek island in the Dodecanese, off the SW coast of Turkey: 111 sq. mi. (287 sq. km)

Kosciusko , Mount mountain of the Australian Alps, in SE New South Wales: highest peak in Australia: 7,316 ft. (2,230 m) Kosciusko (käs'i: ûs´kou; Pol kôsh chu:sh´kô), Thaddeus (born Tadeusz Andrzej Bonawentura Kościuszko) 1746-1817; Pol. patriot & general: served in the Am. army in the American Revolution

kosher (kou´shэr; for v., usually käsh´эr) •adj. 1 Judaism a) clean or fit to eat according to the dietary laws: Lev. 11 b) serving or dealing with such food {a kosher kitchen} 2 loosely, prepared according to traditional Jewish recipes {kosher pickles} Æ 3 [Slang] all right, proper, correct, etc. •n. kosher food •vt. to make kosher [Yidd < Heb kāshēr, fit, proper < root ksr, to be appropriate]

Kossuth (käs´u:θ', kä su:θ´; Hung kô´shut), Louis (Hung. name Lajos Kossuth) 1802-94; Hung. patriot & statesman

Kostroma (kä'strou mä´) city in WC Russia, on the Volga: pop. 269,000

Kosygin (kэ si:´gin), A·lek·sei Ni·ko·la·e·vich (ä'lyik sei´ ni:'kô lä´yi vich') 1904-80; Russ. statesman: premier of the U.S.S.R. (1964-80)

Kota Kinabalu (kout´э kin'э bэ lu:´) seaport in N Borneo: capital of Sabah, Malaysia: pop. 109,000

Kotabaru (kout'э bär´u:) old name of JAYAPURA

koto (kou´tou') •n. a Japanese musical instrument of the zither family, with a rectangular body and seven to thirteen waxed silk strings [Jpn, a generic term for zitherlike stringed instruments]

Koussevitzky (ku:'sэ vit´ski:), Serge (sørj, serzh) (born Sergey Aleksandrovich Kusevitsky) 1874-1951; U.S. orchestral conductor, born in Russia

Kovar (kou´vär') trademark for an alloy that consists mostly of iron, nickel, and cobalt, and has the same heat expansion properties as heat-resistant glass: it is usually fused to glass to form a gas seal

Kovno (kôv´nô) Russ. name of KAUNAS

Kowloon (kau´lu:n´) 1 peninsula in SE China, opposite Hong Kong island & part of Hong Kong colony: 3 sq. mi. (7.8 sq. km) 2 city on this peninsula: pop. 1,350,000

kowtow (kau´tau', kau tau´; kau´tau´) •n. the act of kneeling and touching the ground with the forehead to show great deference, submissive respect, homage, etc., as formerly in China •vi. 1 to perform a kowtow 2 to show servile respect (to) [Chin k'o-t'ou, lit., bump head]

Kozhikode (kou´zhi koud') old name of CALICUT

KP kitchen police

kpc kiloparsec

kr 1 krona 2 KRONE² Kr Chem. symbol for krypton KR Chess king's rook

Kra (krä), Isthmus of narrow strip of land connecting the Malay Peninsula with the Indochinese peninsula

kraal (kräl, kröl) •n. 1 a village of South African natives, usually surrounded by a stockade 2 a fenced enclosure for cattle or sheep in South Africa; pen •vt. to shut up in a kraal [Afrik, village, pen, enclosure < Port curral, pen for cattle; akin to Sp corral, CORRAL]

Krafft-Ebing (kræft´ei´biŋ, kräft´-), Baron Richard von 1840-1902; Ger. neurologist

kraft (kræft, kräft) •n. strong wrapping paper, usually brown, made from wood pulp prepared with a sodium sulfate solution: also kraft paper [< Ger, strength: see CRAFT]

krait (krait) •n. any of a genus (Bungarus) of SC and SE Asian elapine snakes that are generally black or dark brown with tan or yellow bands [Hindi karait]

Krakatau (krä'kä tau´) small island & volcano of Indonesia, between Java & Sumatra: 2,667 ft. (813 m): also Kra'ka·to´a (-tou´э)

kraken (krä´kэn) •n. a legendary sea monster of northern seas [Norw]

Kraków (kræ´kau', krei-; -kou; Pol křä´kuf) city in S Poland, on the Vistula: pop. 735,000

Kramatorsk (kräm'э törsk´) city in E Ukraine: pop. 192,000

Krasnodar (kräs'nou däř´) 1 territory in SW Russia, in the N Caucasus: 34,200 sq. mi. (88,579 sq. km); pop. 4,511,000 2 capital of this territory, on the Kuban River: pop. 609,000

Krasnoyarsk (kräs'nou yäřsk´) 1 territory in SC Russia: 928,000 sq. mi. (2,404,000 sq. km); pop. 2,960,000 2 capital of this territory, on the Yenisei River: pop. 872,000

krater (kreit´эr, krä ter´) •n. an ancient Greek jar with a broad body, a wide neck, and two handles, used for mixing water and wine [Gr kratēr: see CRATER]

kraut (kraut) •n. [Slang] a German, or person of German ancestry: a derogatory term

Krebs cycle (krebs) a cyclic series of biochemical reactions, usually in the mitochondria, that represents the final common pathway in all aerobic organisms for the oxidation of amino acids, fats, and carbohydrates, and that converts the citric acid, etc. from food into carbon dioxide and ATP [after H. A. Krebs (1900-81), Brit biochemist]

kreep (kri:p) •n. a type of basaltic lunar rock rich in potassium, phosphorus, etc. [potassium (K) + Rare-Earth Elements + Phosphorus]

Krefeld (křei´felt') city in W Germany, on the Rhine, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia: pop. 220,000

Kreisler (krais´lэr), Fritz (frits) 1875-1962; U.S. violinist & composer, born in Austria

Kremenchug (krem'эn chu:k´, -chu:g´) city in EC Ukraine: pop. 224,000

kremlin (krem´lin) •n. in Russia, the citadel of a city the Kremlin 1 the citadel of Moscow, in which some government offices of the Soviet Union were located: it now contains some offices of the Russian government 2 the government of the Soviet Union or, now, Russia [Fr < Russ kryeml']

Kremlinology (krem'lin äl´э ji:) •n. the study of the government, foreign policy, etc. of the Soviet Union Krem'lin·ol´o·gist •n. [prec. + -OLOGY]

kreplach (krep´läkh, -lэkh) •n.pl. small casings of dough filled with ground meat or cheese, etc., boiled, and served usually in soup [Yidd kreplech, pl. of krepel < MHG (dial.) kreppel, var. of krepfel, dim. of krapfe, fritter < OHG krapfo, lit., a hook: for IE base see CRADLE]

Krete or Kriti (kri:´ti:) Gr. name of CRETE

kreutzer or kreuzer (kroit´sэr) •n. a former small, copper coin of Germany and Austria [Ger kreuzer < kreuz, a cross: so called because the coin had the figure of a cross on it]

kriegspiel (kri:g´spi:l', -shpi:l') •n. a game for teaching military tactics by the use of small figures representing troops, tanks, etc. moved about as on a large map [Ger kriegsspiel < kriegs (gen. of krieg, war) + spiel, game]

Kriemhild (kři:m´hilt') in the Nibelungenlied, the wife of Siegfried and sister of Gunther: see also GUDRUN [Ger < MHG Kriemhilt < Gmc *grim-, a mask (akin to Frank *grima: see GRIMACE) + *hild-, battle (akin to HILT)]

krill (kril) pl. krill •n. any of an order (Euphausiacea) of small, pelagic, shrimplike malacostracan crustaceans, the main food of whalebone whales [Norw kril, young fry (of fish)]

Krim (krim) Russ. name of CRIMEA

krimmer (krim´эr) •n. a grayish, tightly curled fur similar to astrakhan, made from the pelts of Crimean lambs [Ger < Krim, Crimea]

kris (kri:s) •n. a Malay double-edged dagger, usually with a wavy blade [Malay keris]

Krishna (krish´nэ) •n. an important Hindu god, an incarnation of Vishnu, second god of the Hindu trinity Krish´na·ism' •n. [Sans krsna, lit., black < IE base *kers-, black, dark] Krishna (krish´nэ) river in S India, flowing from the Western Ghats eastward into the Bay of Bengal: c. 800 mi. (1,287 km)

Kriss Kringle (kris´ kriŋ´gэl) SANTA CLAUS [Ger Christkindl < Christ, Christ + kindl, dim. of kind, child]

Kristen (kris´tэn) a feminine name: also Kris´tin

Krivoi Rog (kři voi´ řög´) city in SC Ukraine: pop. 684,000

Krogh (krög), (Schack) August Steen·berg (sti:n´bэrg) 1874-1949; Dan. physiologist

krona (krou´nэ) pl. kro´nor' (-nör') •n. the basic monetary unit of Sweden: see MONEY, table [Swed < L corona, CROWN]

króna (krou´nэ) pl. kró´nur (-nэr) •n. the basic monetary unit of Iceland: see MONEY, table [Ice < L corona, CROWN]

krone¹ (krou´nэ) pl. kro´nen (-nэn) •n. 1 a former German gold coin 2 a former monetary unit or a silver coin of Austria [Ger < L corona, CROWN]

krone² (krou´nэ) pl. kro´ner (-nэr) •n. the basic monetary unit of a) Denmark b) Norway: see MONEY, table [Dan < L corona, CROWN]

Kronshtadt (křôn'shtät´) city & naval fortress on an island in NW Russia, on the Gulf of Finland: pop. 59,000: Ger. sp. Kron´stadt'

Kropotkin (křô pôt´kin; E krэ pät´kin), Prince Pëtr A·lek·se·ye·vich (pyôt´řª ä'lyik sei´yi vich') 1842-1921; Russ. anarchist & writer

Kruger (kru:´gэr), Paul (born Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger) 1825-1904; South African statesman: president of the South African Republic (1883-1900)

Krugerrand (kru:´gэ rænd') •n. a gold coin of South Africa, often bought for investment [after prec. + RAND²]

Krugersdorp (kru:´gэrz dörp') city in the SW Transvaal, South Africa: pop. 141,000

kruller (krûl´эr) •n. CRULLER

krummhorn or krumhorn (krum´hörn', krûm´-) •n. CRUMHORN [Ger < krumm, crooked + horn, HORN]

Krung Thep (kruŋ´ teip´) Thai name of BANGKOK

Krupp (krûp; Ger křup) family of Ger. steel & munitions manufacturers in the 19th & 20th cent.

krypton (krip´tän') •n. a rare, gaseous chemical element present in very small quantities in air and inert to all reagents except fluorine: symbol, Kr; at. wt., 83.80; at. no., 36; density, 3.733 g/l (0°C); melt. pt., -156.6°C; boil. pt., -152.3°C [ModL: so named (1898) by Sir William RAMSAY and M. W. Travers (1872-1961), Brit chemists, its discoverers < Gr krypton, neut. of kryptos, hidden (see CRYPT), in ref. to their difficulty in isolating it]

KS Kansas

Kshatriya (kэ shæt´ri: yэ) •n. among the Hindus, a member of the military caste, next below the Brahmans [Sans satriya < ksatra, rule]

kt 1 karat(s) 2 kiloton(s) 3 knot(s) Kt 1 Knight 2 Chess knight KT 1 Knight of (the Order of) the Thistle 2 Knight (or Knights) Templar

Ku Klux (ku:´ klûks'; also kyu:´-) short for KU KLUX KLAN [< Gr kyklos, a circle (see CYCLE): prob. suggested by Kuklos Adelphōn, a S college fraternity (1812-66)]

Ku Klux Klan (ku:' klûks' klæn´; also kyu:'-) 1 a secret society of white men founded in the S States after the Civil War to reestablish and maintain white supremacy 2 a secret society organized in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1915 as the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan: it is anti-black, anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, etc., and uses terrorist methods [KU KLUX + klan, arbitrary sp. for CLAN]

Ku Kluxer (ku:´ klûks'эr; also, kyu:´-) a member of the Ku Klux Klan: also Ku Klux

Kuala Lumpur (kwä´lэ lum pur´) city in WC Peninsular Malaysia: its capital & capital of Malaysia: pop. 938,000

Kuang-chou (kwäŋ´jou´) var. of GUANGZHOU

Kuban (ku: bæn´; Russ ku: bän´yª) river in the N Caucasus, flowing northwest into the Sea of Azov: c. 570 mi. (920 km)

Kublai Khan (ku:´blai kän, -blэ-) c. 1216-94; Mongol emperor of China (c. 1260-94): founder of the Mongol dynasty: grandson of Genghis Khan: also Ku·bla Khan (ku:´blэ)

kuchen (ku:´kэn, -khэn) •n. a German coffeecake, made of yeast dough covered with sugar and spices, and often containing raisins, nuts, etc. [Ger, cake: see CAKE]

Kuching (ku:´chiŋ) capital of Sarawak, Malaysia: seaport in the W part: pop. 300,000

kudos (kyu:´däs', ku:´-; also, -dous') •n. credit or praise for an achievement; glory; fame: sometimes wrongly taken as a plural (pron. –douz) of an assumed kudo [Gr kydos, glory, fame < IE *kud- < base *keu-, to pay attention to, HEAR]

kudu (ku:´du:') pl. -dus' •n.or -du' either of two large, grayish-brown African antelopes (genus Tragelaphus), with narrow, white stripes across the back and long, twisted horns [Hottentot]

kudzu (kud´zu:') •n. a fast-growing, hairy perennial vine (Pueraria lobata) of the pea family, with large, three-part leaves: sometimes planted in the South for soil stabilization or forage [Jpn]

Kufic (ku:´fik, kyu:´-) •adj. designating or of an early Arabic alphabet with angular letters [after Kufa (Ar al-Kūfa), town on the Euphrates, south of Babylon + -IC]

kugel (ku:´gэl) •n. a crusty baked pudding made as of potatoes or noodles [Yidd kugl < MHG kugel, ball]

Kuhn (kun) 1 Richard 1900-67; Austrian chemist 2 Thomas S(amuel) 1922- ; U.S. historian & philosopher of science

Kuibyshev (kwi:´bi shef') name (1935-91) for SAMARA

kukri (kuk´ri:) •n. a long, curved knife used as a weapon by the Gurkhas of Nepal

kulak (ku: läk´, ku:´läk') •n. a well-to-do peasant farmer in Russia who profited from the labor of poor peasants and opposed the Soviet collectivization of the land [Russ, lit., fist, hence, tightwad < ?]

Kultur (kul tu:ř´) •n. civilization: specif., the highly systematized social organization of Hohenzollern or Nazi Germany: now usually ironic in application, with reference to chauvinism, militarism, etc. [Ger, lit., culture]

Kulturkampf (-kämpf') •n. the struggle between the Roman Catholic Church and the German government from 1872 to 1887, over control of education, civil marriage, etc. [Ger < prec. + kampf, a battle]

Kumamoto (ku:´mä mou´tou) city in W Kyushu, Japan: pop. 527,000

Kumasi (ku mä´si:) city in SC Ghana: capital of Ashanti region: pop. 352,000

Kumayry (ku: mei´ri:) city in NW Armenia: pop. 223,000

kumiss (ku:´mis) •n. 1 mare's or camel's milk fermented and used as a drink by Tatar nomads of Asia 2 a similar drink made from cow's milk, used in certain special diets: also kou´miss [Ger < Russ kumys < Turkic qumιs, qιmιz]

kümmel (kim´эl; Ger küm´эl) •n. a colorless liqueur flavored with caraway seeds, anise, cumin, etc. [Ger, caraway < OHG kumil, kumin < L cuminum: see CUMIN]

kumquat (kûm´kwät') •n. 1 an orange-colored, oval fruit about the size of a small plum, with a sour pulp and a sweet rind, used in preserves and confections 2 a tree (genus Fortunella) of the rue family that bears this fruit [Cantonese kam-kwat < Mandarin chin-chü, lit., golden orange]

Kun (kun), Bé·la (bei´lä) 1886-c. 1937; Hung. Communist leader

Küng (kuŋ, küŋ), Hans 1928- ; Swiss theologian

kung fu (kuŋ´ fu:´, gu:ŋ´-) a Chinese system of self-defense, like karate but emphasizing circular rather than linear movements [< Chin ch'uan-fa, lit., boxing principles]

K'ung Fu-tzu (kuŋ´ fu:´dzû´) Chin. name of CONFUCIUS

Kunlun Mountains (kun´lun´) mountain system in W China, between Tibet & Xinjiang: highest peak, c. 25,300 ft. (7,712 m)

Kunming (kun´miŋ´) city in S China: capital of Yunnan province: pop. 1,430,000

kunzite (kunts´ait') •n. a transparent variety of spodumene, occurring in lilac crystals, used as a gem [after G. F. Kunz (1856-1932), U.S. gem expert + -ITE¹]

Kuomintang (kwou´min tæŋ´; Chin gwou´min´däŋ) nationalist political party of Taiwan, organized chiefly by Sun Yat-sen in 1911 and afterward controlled and led by Chiang Kai-shek: see TAIWAN [Mandarin kuo, nation(alist) + min, people('s) + tang, party]

Kura (ku rä´) river flowing from NE Turkey west across Transcaucasia, into the Caspian Sea: c. 940 mi. (1,512 km)

Kurashiki (ku: rä´shi: ki:) city in SW Honshu, Japan: pop. 411,000

Kurd (kørd, kurd) •n. a member of a people living chiefly in Kurdistan and the S Caucasus [< Kurdish: a self-designation]

Kurdish (-ish) •n. the Iranian language of the Kurds •adj. designating or of the Kurds or their language or culture

Kurdistan (kør´di stæn', kur´-; -stän') region in SW Asia inhabited chiefly by Kurds, occupying SE Turkey, N Iraq, & NW Iran

Kure (ku:´řei´) seaport in SW Honshu, Japan: pop. 231,000

Kurgan (kuř gän´) city in SW Siberian Russia: pop. 343,000

Kuril (or Kurile) Islands (ku:´ril, ku: ri:l´) chain of islands belonging to Russia, between N Hokkaido, Japan, and Kamchatka Peninsula: formerly Japanese (1875-1945): c. 6,000 sq. mi. (15,540 sq. km)

Kurland (kur´lэnd) historical name for a region in W Latvia: see KURZEME

Kurosawa (ku:'rou sä´wä'), A·ki·ra (ä ki:´rä') 1910- Jpn. motion-picture director

Kuroshio (ku: rou´shi: ou´) JAPAN CURRENT

kurrajong (kør´э jöŋ') •n. any of several Australian trees and shrubs; esp., a bottletree (Brachychiton populneum) yielding fibers used for weaving nets, mats, etc. [< native name in Australia]

Kursk (ku:řsk) city in SW Russia, near the Ukrainian border: pop. 420,000

kurta (kørt´э) •n. 1 a knee-length, collarless shirt worn over pajamas by men in India 2 a woman's dress resembling this shirt

kurtosis (kэr tou´sis) •n. the degree of peakedness of the graph of a statistical distribution, indicative of the concentration around the mean [< Gr kyrtōsis, a bulging, convexity < kyrtos, curved: for IE base see CURVE]

kuru (ku:´ru:') •n. a degenerative disease of the central nervous system, found among certain aborigines of the eastern highlands of New Guinea [< native name in New Guinea]

kuruş (ku řu:sh´) pl. -ruş´ •n. a monetary unit of Turkey equivalent to ¹/100 of a lira [Turk]

Kurzeme (kur´ze mэ) state of Latvia: it occupies the historical region of KURLAND

Kush (kûsh) alt. sp. of CUSH Kush·it´ic (-it´ik) •adj., n.

Kuskokwim (kûs´kэ kwim') river in SW Alas., flowing from the Alaska Range southwest into the Bering Sea: 550 mi. (885 km) [< Esk]

Kutch (kûch) 1 former state of W India, on the Arabian Sea, now part of the state of Gujarat 2 Rann of (rûn эv) large salt marsh in W India & S Pakistan: c. 9,000 sq. mi. (23,310 sq. km)

Kutenai or Kutenay (ku:t´ªn ei') alt. sp. of KOOTENAY •n. 1 a member of a tribe of Indians who live in Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia 2 their isolated language, the unique member of a family

Kutuzov (kэ tu:´zöf', -zöv'), Mi·kha·il I·la·ri·o·no·vich (mi:'khä i:l´ i:'lä ři: ô nô´vich') 1745-1813; Russ. field marshal: defeated Napoleon at Smolensk (1812)

kuvasz (ku:´väs') pl. -va·szok' (-vä sök') •n. any of a breed of large, sturdily built dog with a white coat, long and wavy on the back and legs, orig. used to herd sheep and as a guard dog

Kuwait (ku: weit´, -wait´) 1 independent Arab state in E Arabia, at head of Persian Gulf between Iraq & Saudi Arabia: 7,000 sq. mi. (17,818 sq. km); pop. 1,771,000 2 its capital, a seaport on the Persian Gulf: pop. 168,000 Ku·wai´ti (-weit´i:) •adj., n.

Kuyp (koip), Aelbert alt. sp. of Aelbert CUYP

Kuznets (kûz´nets'), Simon 1901-85; U.S. economist, born in Russia

Kuznetsk Basin (kuz netsk´) industrial & coal-mining region in SC Asian Russia, including the cities of Kemerovo, Prokopyevsk, and Novokuznetsk: c. 10,000 sq. mi. (25,900 sq. km)

kV or kv kilovolt(s)

kvass or kvas (kэ väs´) •n. a Russian fermented drink made from rye, barley, rye bread, etc. and often flavored [Russ kvas < IE *kwātso- < base *kwat-, to ferment > L caseus, CHEESE¹]

kvell (kэ vel´) •vi. [Colloq.] to exclaim joyfully or proudly, esp. in boasting of the achievements of a family member

kvetch (kэ vech´) •vi. [Slang] 1 to be urgent or insistent; press; strain 2 to complain in a nagging or whining way •n. [Slang] a person who kvetches [< Yidd kvechen < Ger quetschen, to pinch, squeeze < MHG quetsen < IE base *gwedh-, to injure, destroy]

kW or kw kilowatt(s)

Kwa (kwä) •n. a branch of the Niger-Congo subfamily of languages, spoken in West and NW Africa and including Akan, Ashanti, etc.

kwacha (kwä´chä') pl. kwa´cha' •n. the basic monetary unit of a) Malawi b) Zambia: see MONEY, table [native term, lit., dawn]

Kwajalein (kwä´jэ lein') atoll in the W Pacific, in the Marshall Islands: 6.5 sq. mi. (16.9 sq. km)

Kwakiutl (kwä'ki: u:t´ªl) •n. 1 a member of a North American Indian people of British Columbia, noted for their potlatches 2 the Wakashan language of this people [native name, lit., beach at the north end of the river]

Kwangchow (kwäŋ´chou´; Chin gwäŋ´jou´) old form of GUANGZHOU

Kwangju (gwäŋ´ju:´) city in SW South Korea: pop. 870,000

Kwangsi (gwäŋ´si:´) old form of GUANGXI

Kwangtung (kwæŋ´tuŋ´; Chin gwäŋ´duŋ´) old form of GUANGDONG

kwanza (kwän´zä') pl. kwan´zas' •n. the basic monetary unit of Angola: see MONEY, table [after the Cuanza River, in Angola]

Kwanzaa (kwän´zä) •n. a cultural festival observed by American blacks from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1: also sp. Kwan´za [coined by M. Ron Karenga (1966) < Swahili matunda ya kwanza, first fruits (of harvest)]

kwashiorkor (kwä'shi: ör´kör') •n. a severe disease of young children, caused by chronic deficiency of protein and calories in the diet and characterized by stunted growth, edema, and a protuberant belly [< native name in Ghana]

Kweichow (kwei´chau´; Chin gwei´jou´) old form of GUIZHOU

Kweilin (kwei´lin´; Chin gwei´lin´) old form of GUILIN

Kweiyang (kwei´yäŋ´; Chin gwei´yäŋ´) old form of GUIYANG

kWh, kwh, kWhr, or kwhr kilowatt-hour

KY or Ky Kentucky

kyack (kai´æk') •n. [West] a kind of packsack consisting of two sacklike containers swung on either side of a packsaddle [< ?]

kyak (kai´æk') •n. alt. sp. of KAYAK

kyanite (kai´э nait') •n. CYANITE

kyanize (-naiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make (wood) resistant to decay by treatment with a solution of mercuric chloride [after J. H. Kyan (1774-1850), Ir inventor]

kyat (kyät) •n. the basic monetary unit of Myanmar: see MONEY, table [< Burmese]

Kyd (kid), Thomas 1558-94; Eng. dramatist

Kyle (kail) a masculine and feminine name

kylix (kai´liks', kil´iks') pl. ky·li·kes (kai´li ki:z', kil´i-) a lavishly decorated, ancient Greek two-handled drinking cup with a stem and a wide, shallow bowl: also cylix •n. [Gr kylix < IE base *(s)kel-, cup > L calix]

kymogram (kai´mou græm', -mэ-) •n. the chart produced by a kymograph

kymograph (-græf') •n. an apparatus consisting of a rotating drum for recording wavelike motions, variations, or modulations, such as muscular contractions ky'mo·graph´ic •adj. ky·mog·ra·phy (kai mäg´rэ fi:) •n. [< Gr kyma, a wave (see CYME) + -GRAPH]

Kymric (kim´rik) •adj., n. var. of CYMRIC

Kymry or Kymri (-ri:) pl. -ry, -ri •n. or -ries var. of CYMRY

kynar (kai´när') trademark for a hard, white polyvinylidene fluoride resin that resists chemicals and heat, used in pipes, pumps, etc.

Kyongsong (kyöŋ´söŋ´) SEOUL

Kyoto (ki:´out´ou) city in S Honshu, Japan: former capital of Japan (794-1869): contains many fine Buddhist & Shinto temples, shrines, & other buildings: pop. 1,464,000

kyphosis (kai fou´sis) •n. abnormal curvature of the spine resulting in a hump ky·phot´ic (-fät´ik) •adj. [ModL < Gr kyphōsis < kyphos, a hump, hunch < IE *keubh- < base *keu-, to bend, arch > HIP¹, HUMP]

Kyrgyzstan (kir'gi stæn´) country in SC Asia: became independent upon the breakup of the U.S.S.R. (1991): 76,460 sq. mi. (198,500 sq. km); pop. 4,000,000; cap. Bishkek: formerly, Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Kyrie eleison (kir´i: ei' ei lei´i: soun') 1 an invocation or response used in several Christian liturgies; specif., a regular part of the Roman Catholic Mass 2 a musical setting of this [Gr(Ec) Kyrie eleēson, Lord, have mercy (upon us): see Ps. 123:3, Matt. 15:22]

Kythera (ki:´θi rä') Gr. name of CYTHERA

Kyushu (kyu:´shu:´) one of the four main islands of Japan, south of Honshu: 13,760 sq. mi. (35,640 sq. km); chief city, Nagasaki

l abbrev. 1 land 2 latitude 3 large 4 law 5 leaf 6 league 7 left 8 length 9 line 10 link 11 lira; lire 12 liter(s) 13 long 14 loss(es) 15 [Brit.] pound(s) sterling: now usually £ [L libra, pl. librae] L abbrev. 1 Elec. inductance 2 lake 3 large 4 Physics latent heat 5 Latin 6 left 7 length 8 lira; lire 9 liter(s) 10 lobby 11 longitude 12 loss(es) 13 [Brit.] pound(s) sterling: now usually £ [L libra, pl. librae] L (el) pl. L's •n. Æ 1 an extension of a building that gives the whole a shape resembling L; ell 2 a Roman numeral for 50: with a superior bar (L¯), 50,000 Æ 3 an elevated railroad [for el, short for ELEVATED]

L- prefix having a spatial arrangement of atoms around an asymmetrical carbon atom similar to that of levorotatory glyceraldehyde, an arbitrary standard of comparison: usually printed as a small capital {L-glucose} l- prefix levorotatory: usually printed in italic type: also symbolized by a minus sign (-) {l-limonene}

l or L (el) pl. l's, L's •n. 1 the twelfth letter of the English alphabet: from the Greek lambda, a borrowing from the Phoenician 2 any of the speech sounds that this letter represents, as, in English, the (l) in love 3 a type or impression for L or l 4 the twelfth in a sequence or group 5 an object shaped like L •adj. 1 of L or l 2 twelfth in a sequence or group 3 shaped like L

l.c. in the place cited [L loco citato]

l.s. place of the seal [L locus sigilla]

L.S.D., l.s.d., or £.s.d. pounds, shillings, pence [L librae, solidi, denarii]

L/C or l/c letter of credit

LA 1 Los Angeles 2 Louisiana La 1 Bible Lamentations 2 Chem. symbol for lanthanum 3 Louisiana

La Bruyère (lä' bru: yer´; Fr lå břü yeř´), Jean de (zhäñ dэ) 1645-96; Fr. essayist & moralist

La Coruña (lä' kô řu:´nyä) seaport in NW Spain, on the Atlantic: pop. 232,000

La Crosse (lэ krös´) city in W Wis., on the Mississippi: pop. 51,000 [< prec.]

La Farge (lэ färzh´, färj´), John 1835-1910; U.S. artist

La Fayette (lä'fi: et´, -fei-; læf'i:-; Fr lå få yet´), Comtesse de (born Marie Madeleine Pioche de La Vergne) 1634-93; Fr. novelist

La Follette (lэ fäl´it), Robert Marion 1855-1925; U.S. legislator, reformer, & Progressive Party leader

La Fontaine (lä' fän tein´; Fr lå fouñ ten´), Jean de 1621-95; Fr. poet & writer of fables

La Guardia (lэ gwär´di: э), Fi·o·rel·lo H(enry) (fi:'э rel´ou) 1882-1947; U.S. political leader: mayor of New York (1934-45)

La Habra (lэ häb´rэ) city in SW Calif.: pop. 51,000 [< Sp la, the + abra, gorge, mountain pass]

La Laguna (lä lэ gu:´nэ) city in Tenerife, Canary Islands: pop. 112,000

La Mancha (lä män´chä') flat region in SC Spain

La Mesa (lä mei´sэ, lэ-) city in SW Calif.: suburb of San Diego: pop. 53,000 [Sp., lit., the MESA]

La Mirada (lä'mэ rä´dэ) city in SW Calif.: pop. 40,000 [Sp, lit., the gaze, glance]

La Paz (lä päs´; E lэ päz´) 1 city in W Bolivia: actual seat of government (cf. SUCRE): pop. 881,000 2 seaport in NW Mexico, on the Gulf of California; capital of Baja California Sur: pop. 46,000

La Plata (lä plä´tä) seaport in E Argentina, on the Río de la Plata, southeast of Buenos Aires: pop. 455,000

La Rochefoucauld (lå řôsh fu: kou´), Duc Fran·çois de (fřäñ swå´dэ) 1613-80; Fr. moralist & writer of maxims

La Rochelle (lå řô shel´) seaport in W France, on the Bay of Biscay: pop. 78,000

La Salle (lэ sæl´; Fr lå sål´), Sieur Ro·bert Ca·ve·lier de (řô beř´ kå vэ lyei´ dэ) 1643-87; Fr. explorer in North America

La Spezia (lä speit´si: ä') seaport in NW Italy, on the Ligurian Sea: pop. 111,000

La Tène (lä ten´) designating or of a Celtic Iron Age culture (c. 400-c. 15 B.C.) of central Europe, characterized by decorations in bronze, gold, and enamel on weapons, utensils, ornaments, etc. [name of the site of such a find on Lake of Neuchâtel]

La Tour (lå tur´), Georges de (zhôřzh dэ) 1593-1652; Fr. painter

la¹ (lä, lö) •interj. [Now Chiefly Dial.] oh! look!: an exclamation of surprise or emphasis [see LO]

la² (lä) •n. Music a syllable representing the sixth tone of the diatonic scale: see SOLFEGGIO [ME < ML < labii, word of a Latin hymn: see GAMUT]

laager (lä´gэr) •n. in South Africa, a temporary camp within an encircling barricade of wagons, etc. •vt. to form into a laager •vi. to camp in a laager [Afrik < Ger lager, Du leger, a camp: see LAIR]

Laaland (lö´län) var. of LOLLAND

lab (læb) •n. [Colloq.] a laboratory Lab Labrador

Laban (lei´bэn) Bible the father of Rachel and Leah: Gen. 29:16 [Heb lavan, lit., white]

Labanotation (lä'bэ nou tei´shэn) •n. a system using symbols to write down the movements of dancers, especially in a ballet

labarum (læb´э rэm) pl. -a·ra (-rэ) the royal cavalry standard carried before the Roman emperors in war, esp. that first carried by Constantine, the first emperor to adopt Christianity: it usually bore the first two letters (XP) of the Greek Christos (Christ) •n. [LL (> LGr labaron) < ?]

labdanum (læb´dэ nэm) •n. a dark resin obtained from various cistus shrubs, used in perfumery [ML, altered < L ladanum < Gr ladanon < lēdon, mastic < Ar lādan < Pers]

Labe (lä´be) Czech name of the ELBE

labefaction (læb'э fæk´shэn) •n. [Rare] a weakening, ruining, etc.; downfall; deterioration [< L labefactus, pp. of labefacere, to cause to totter < labare, to totter (see LAP¹) + facere, to make: see DO¹]

label (lei´bэl) •n. 1 a) a narrow band of cloth, etc.; fillet b) a narrow strip of ribbon attached to a document to hold the seal 2 a card, strip of paper, etc. marked and attached to an object to indicate its nature, contents, ownership, destination, etc. 3 a descriptive word or phrase applied to a person, group, theory, etc. as a convenient generalized classification Æ 4 an identifying brand, as of a company producing recorded music 5 a) a company producing and distributing prerecorded discs, tapes, etc. b) such a tape, disc, etc. 6 TRACER (n. 4) 7 Archit. a projecting molding over a door, window, etc. 8 Heraldry a horizontal bar with several dependent points on the coat of arms of an eldest son •vt. -beled or -belled, -bel·ing or -bel·ling 1 to attach a label to; mark with a label 2 to classify as; call; describe 3 a) to differentiate (an element, atom, etc.) by introducing a radioactive isotope or an isotope of unusual mass that may be readily traced through a complex process b) to incorporate a labeled element into (a molecule, compound, material, etc.) la´bel·er or la´bel·ler •n. [OFr, a rag, strip < Frank *labba, akin to OHG lappa, a rag, shred: for IE base see LAP¹]

labellum (lэ bel´эm) pl. -bel´la (-э) •n. the lowest of the three petals forming the corolla of an orchid, usually larger than the other two petals, and often spurred [ModL < L, dim. of labrum, lip, akin to labium: see LIP]

labia (lei´bi: э) •n. pl. of LABIUM

labia majora (mэ jör´э) the outer folds of skin of the vulva, one on either side [ModL, lit., greater lips]

labia minora (mi nör´э) the two folds of mucous membrane within the labia majora [ModL, lit., lesser lips]

labial (-эl) •adj. 1 of the labia, or lips 2 Phonet. articulated with one or both lips, as (f), (b), and (ü) •n. 1 FLUE PIPE 2 a labial sound la´bi·al·ly •adv. [ML labialis < L labium, LIP]

labialize (-iz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to pronounce (a sound or sounds) by using the lips, sometimes excessively 2 to round (a vowel) la'bi·al·i·za´tion •n. [prec. + -IZE]

labiate (lei´bi: it, -eit') •adj. 1 formed or functioning like a lip 2 having a lip or lips; lipped 3 Bot. a) having the calyx or corolla so divided that one part overlaps the other like a lip b) of or pertaining to the mint family •n. a plant of the mint family [ModL labiatus < L labium, LIP]

labile (lei´bэl, -bail') •adj. liable to change; unstable {labile chemical compounds} la·bil·i·ty (lei bil´i ti:) •n. [L labilis < labi, to slip, fall: see LAP¹]

labio- (lei´bi: ou, -э) combining form 1 the lips 2 the lips and {labiodental} [< L labium, LIP]

labiodental (lei'bi: ou'dent´ªl) •adj. 1 Phonet. articulated with the lower lip against the upper front teeth, as (f) and (v) •n. a labiodental sound [prec. + DENTAL]

labionasal (-nei´zэl) Phonet. articulated with the lips but having nasal resonance, as (m) •adj. •n. a labionasal sound [LABIO- + NASAL]

labiovelar (-vi:´lэr) Phonet. articulated with the lips rounded and the back of the tongue against or near the velum, or soft palate, as (w) •adj. •n. a labiovelar sound [LABIO- + VELAR]

labium (lei´bi: эm) pl. -bi·a (-э) •n. a lip or liplike organ; esp., a) [pl.] LABIA MAJORA or LABIA MINORA b) the lower, liplike part of the corolla of certain flowers c) the lower lip of an insect, formed by the fusion of the second maxillae [L, LIP]

labor (lei´bэr) •n. 1 physical or mental exertion; work; toil 2 a specific task; piece of work 3 a) all wage-earning workers as a group (distinguished from CAPITAL¹ or MANAGEMENT) b) all manual workers whose work is characterized largely by physical exertion 4 labor unions collectively 5 the work accomplished by or the role in production of all workers, esp. workers for wages 6 Med. the process or period of childbirth; parturition; esp., the muscular contractions of giving birth •vi. [ME laboren < OFr laborer < L laborare < the n.] 1 to work; toil 2 to work hard; exert oneself to get or do something; strive 3 a) to move slowly and with difficulty {the car labored up the hill} b) to pitch and roll heavily {the ship labored in the rough sea} 4 to be afflicted or burdened with a liability or limitation (with under) {to labor under a delusion} 5 to undergo, and suffer the pains of, childbirth •vt. to spend too much time and effort on; develop in too great detail {to labor a point} [earlier elabour < Fr élaborer: see ELABORATE] [L-] Labor Party [OFr < L, labor, orig., hardship, pain, prob. < base of labi, to slip, totter: see LAP¹]

Labor Day in the U.S. & Canada, the first Monday in September, a legal holiday in honor of labor

labor of love work done for personal satisfaction or altruistic reasons rather than for material gain [see 1 Thess. 1:3]

labor party a political party organized to protect and further the rights of workers, or one dominated by organized labor [L- P-] such a party in Great Britain: Brit. sp. Labour Party

labor union an association of workers to promote and protect the welfare, interests, and rights of its members, primarily by collective bargaining

laboratory (læb´э rэ tör'i:; often læb´rэ-; Brit lэ bör´э tэ ri, -э tri) pl. -ries •n. 1 a room, building, etc. for scientific experimentation or research 2 a place for preparing chemicals, drugs, etc. Æ 3 a place where theories, techniques, and methods, as in education or social studies, are tested, analyzed, demonstrated, etc. 4 a room, often containing special equipment and materials, in which students work to enhance skills, remedy deficiencies, etc. in a particular subject, as a foreign language 5 a class period during which students perform experiments or work in a laboratory •adj. of or performed in, or as in, a laboratory [ML laboratorium < L laborare: see LABOR, vi.]

labored (lei´bэrd) •adj. made or done with great effort; not effortless and natural; strained

laborer (lei´bэr эr) •n. 1 a person who labors; esp., a wage-earning worker whose work is largely hard physical labor 2 an unskilled or semi-skilled worker who brings materials to, and does preparatory work for, skilled workers in a trade {mason's laborer} [ME < OFr laboreor < laborer: see LABOR]

labor-intensive (-in ten´siv) •adj. requiring a large labor force and a relatively small investment in capital goods {a labor-intensive industry or plant}

laborious (lэ bör´i: эs) •adj. 1 involving or calling for much hard work; difficult 2 industrious; hard-working 3 LABORED SYN. HARD la·bo´ri·ous·ly •adv. la·bo´ri·ous·ness •n. [ME < OFr laborios < L laboriosus < labor, LABOR]

laborite (lei´bэr ait') •n. 1 a member or supporter of a labor party 2 [L-] a member or supporter of the British Labor Party: Brit. sp. La´bour·ite'

labor-saving (lei´bэr seiv'iŋ) •adj. eliminating or lessening physical labor {labor-saving appliances}

labour (lei´bэr) •n., vt., vi. Brit. sp. of LABOR

labra (lei´brэ, læb´rэ) •n. pl. of LABRUM

Labrador (læb´rэ dör') 1 region along the Atlantic coast of NE Canada, constituting the mainland part of the province of Newfoundland: 112,826 sq. mi. (292,218 sq. km) 2 large peninsula between the Atlantic & Hudson Bay, containing Quebec & Labrador (the region) •n. [also l-] LABRADOR RETRIEVER Lab·ra·dor·e·an or Lab·ra·dor·i·an (læb'rэ dör´i: эn) •adj., n. [prob. < Port lavrador, landholder, for 15th-c. Port explorer João Fernandes, a landholder in the Azores: the name was first applied to Greenland]

Labrador Current icy arctic current flowing south from Baffin Bay past Labrador into the Gulf Stream

Labrador retriever any of a breed of medium-sized retriever with a muscular build, a short, dense coat of a solid color (black, yellow, or dark brown), and a tapering tail, very thick at the base

labradorite (læb´rэ dör ait', læb'rэ dör´-) •n. a variety of plagioclase feldspar often showing a play of colors [after LABRADOR, where specimens have been found]

labret (lei´bret) •n. an ornament of wood, bone, etc. worn, as by some South American Indians, in a hole pierced through the lip [dim. of L labrum, lip]

labrum (lei´brэm, læb´rэm) pl. la·bra (lei´brэ, læb´rэ) •n. a lip or liplike edge; esp., the upper or front lip of insects and other arthropods [ModL < L, lip]

labrusca (lэ brûs´kэ) •adj. designating or of the FOX GRAPE

Labuan (lä'bu: än´) island of Malaysia, off the NW coast of Sabah: 35 sq. mi. (90.6 sq. km)

laburnum (lэ bør´nэm) •n. any of a genus (Laburnum) of small, poisonous trees and shrubs of the pea family, with three-part leaves and drooping racemes of yellow flowers [ModL < L]

labyrinth (læb´э rinθ') •n. 1 a structure containing an intricate network of winding passages hard to follow without losing one's way; maze 2 a complicated, perplexing arrangement, course of affairs, etc. 3 Anat. the inner ear: see EAR¹ [L-] Gr. Myth. the labyrinthine structure built by Daedalus for King Minos of Crete, to house the Minotaur [ME laborintus (altered by folk etym. by assoc. with L labor, LABOR + intus, into) < L labyrinthus < Gr labyrinthos, of pre-Hellenic orig.]

labyrinthine (læb'э rin´θin, -θi:n', -θain') •adj. 1 of or constituting a labyrinth 2 like a labyrinth; intricate; complicated; puzzling: also lab'y·rin´thi·an (-θi: эn) or lab'y·rin´thic

labyrinthitis (læb'э rin θait´is) •n. inflammation of the inner ear, often accompanied by an impaired sense of balance

lac (læk) •n. 1 a resinous substance secreted by various scale insects, esp. a species (Laccifer lacca) of India, that live on certain fig, soapberry, and acacia trees: when melted, strained, and rehardened, it forms shellac 2 LAKH [Hindi lākh < Sans lāksā, var. of rāksā, prob. < IE base *reg-, to color (> Gr regma, colored material); in part via Fr laque < OProv laca < Ar lakk < Pers lak, of same orig.]

Laccadive Islands (læk´э daiv') islands in the Arabian Sea, off the west coast of Kerala, India: 11 sq. mi. (29 sq. km)

laccolith (læk´э liθ') •n. an irregular body of igneous rock intruded between the layers of sedimentary rock, making them bulge upward [< Gr lakkos, a cistern + -LITH]

lace (leis) •n. 1 a string, ribbon, etc. used to draw together and fasten the parts of a shoe, corset, etc. by being drawn through eyelets or over hooks 2 an ornamental braid of gold or silver, for trimming uniforms, hats, etc. 3 a fine netting or openwork fabric of linen, cotton, silk, etc., woven in ornamental designs •vt. laced, lac´ing [ME lacen, lasen < OFr lacier < L laqueare, to ensnare, entangle < the n.] 1 to draw the ends of (a garment, shoe, etc.) together and fasten with a lace 2 to compress the waist of by lacing a corset, etc.: often with up 3 to pass (a cord, etc.) in and out through eyelets, fabric, etc. 4 to weave together; intertwine 5 to ornament with or as with lace 6 a) to streak, as with color b) to diversify, as with a contrasting element 7 a) to thrash; whip b) to hit hard {the batter laced the ball into center field} 8 to add a dash of alcoholic liquor to (a beverage) •vi. 1 to be fastened with a lace {these shoes lace} 2 [Colloq.] to attack physically or verbally: with into [ME las < OFr las, laz < L laqueus, a noose, snare, trap < IE base *lēk- > OE læla, a whip]

Lacedaemon (læs'э di:´mэn) SPARTA Lac'e·dae·mo´ni·an (-di mou´ni: эn) •adj., n.

lacerate (for v. læs´эr eit'; for adj., -it, -eit') -at'ed, -at'ing •vt. 1 to tear jaggedly; mangle (something soft, as flesh) 2 to wound or hurt (someone's feelings, etc.) deeply; distress •adj. 1 torn; mangled 2 Bot. having jagged edges lac´er·a·ble (-эr э bэl) •adj. [< L laceratus, pp. of lacerare, to tear < lacer, lacerated < IE base *lēk-, to tear > Gr lakis, a tatter]

laceration (læs'эr ei´shэn) •n. 1 the act of lacerating 2 the result of lacerating; jagged tear or wound [L laceratio]

Lacerta (lэ sørt´э) a N constellation in the Milky Way, between Cygnus and Andromeda [L: see LIZARD]

lacertilian (læs'эr til´i: эn) •adj., n. SAURIAN [< ModL Lacertilia < L lacertus, lacerta (see LIZARD) + -AN]

lacewing (leis´wiŋ') •n. any of various families of neuropteran insects with four delicate, gauzy wings: the larvae feed on aphids and other insect pests

lacework (-wørk') •n. lace, or any openwork decoration like lace

Lachaise (lå shez´), Gas·ton (gås touñ´) 1882-1935; U.S. sculptor, born in France

laches (læch´iz) Law failure to do the required thing at the proper time (e.g., inexcusable delay in enforcing a claim) •n. [ME lachesse < OFr laschesse < lasche, lax, negligent < VL *lascus, metathetic for L laxus, LAX]

Lachesis (læk´i sis) Gr. & Rom. Myth. that one of the three Fates who determines the length of the thread of life [L < Gr lachesis, lit., lot < lanchanein, to obtain by lot or fate, happen]

Lachine (lэ shi:n´) city in S Quebec, Canada, on Montreal Island: pop. 37,000 [< Fr chine, China: derisive name applied to the land grant of explorer Sieur Robert Cavelier de LA SALLE, in ref. to his failure to find a westward passage to China]

lachrymal (læk´ri mэl) •adj. 1 of, characterized by, or producing tears 2 LACRIMAL (sense 1) •n. LACHRYMATORY [ML lacrimalis < L lacrima, TEAR²]

lachrymator (læk´ri meit'эr) •n. a substance that irritates the eyes and produces tears, as tear gas [< L lacrima, TEAR² + -ATOR]

lachrymatory (-mэ tör'i:) pl. -ries •n. any of various small vases found in ancient Roman sepulchers, formerly supposed to have been used to catch the tears of mourners •adj. of, causing, or producing tears [ML lacrimatorium, neut. of lacrimatorius, of tears < L lacrima, TEAR²]

lachrymose (-mous') •adj. 1 inclined to shed many tears; tearful 2 causing tears; sad {a lachrymose tale} lach´ry·mose'ly •adv. [L lacrimosus < lacrima, TEAR²]

lacily (leis´э li:) •adv. in a lacy manner or pattern

laciness (leis´i: nis) •n. a lacy quality or state

lacing (leis´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a person who laces 2 a thrashing; beating 3 a cord or lace, as a shoelace 4 gold or silver braid used to trim a uniform, etc. 5 a small amount, as of liquor or a flavoring, added to something

laciniate (lэ sin´i: it, -eit') •adj. 1 having a fringe; fringed 2 Bot. cut deeply into narrow, jagged segments Also la·cin´i·at'ed la·cin'i·a´tion •n. [< L lacinia, a flap (akin to lacer: see LACERATE) + -ATE¹]

lack (læk) •n. 1 the fact or condition of not having enough; shortage; deficiency 2 the fact or condition of not having any; complete absence 3 the thing that is lacking or needed •vi. [ME lacen < MDu laken, to be wanting] 1 to be wanting or missing; show a deficiency 2 a) to be short (with in, for, or, now rarely, of) b) to be in need •vt. 1 to be deficient in or entirely without 2 to fall short by {lacking one ounce of being a pound} 3 [Obs.] to need; require SYN.—lack implies an absence or insufficiency of something essential or desired [she lacks experience]; want (in this sense, chiefly British) and need stress the urgency of supplying what is lacking [this matter needs, or wants, immediate attention]; require emphasizes even more strongly imperative need, connoting that what is needed is indispensable [his work requires great powers of concentration] —ANT. have, possess [early ME lac < or akin to MLowG & MDu lak, lack: for IE base see LEAK]

lack- (læk) combining form lacking {lackluster}

lackadaisical (læk'э dei´zi kэl) •adj. showing lack of interest or spirit; listless; languid lack'a·dai´si·cal·ly •adv. [< lackadaisy, altered (infl. by DAISY) < fol.]

lackaday (læk´э dei') •interj. [Archaic] an exclamation of regret, sorrow, pity, etc. [contr. < ALACKADAY]

lackey (læk´i:) pl. -eys •n. 1 a male servant of low rank, usually in some sort of livery or uniform 2 a follower who carries out another's orders like a servant; toady •vt., vi. -eyed, -ey·ing [Now Rare] to serve as a lackey [Fr laquais, a lackey, soldier < Catalan alacay < Sp lacayo, lackey, footman < OSp alcayaz < Ar al qā'īd: see ALCAIDE]

lackluster (læk´lûs'tэr) •adj. 1 lacking brightness; dull {lackluster eyes} 2 lacking energy or vitality; boring, unimaginative, etc. {a lackluster performance} •n. [Rare] absence of brightness; dullness Also [Chiefly Brit.] lack´lus'tre

Laconia (lэ kou´ni: э) 1 ancient country on the SE coast of the Peloponnesus, Greece: dominated by the city of Sparta: see GREECE, map 2 region of modern Greece in the same general area: also sp. Lakonia La·co´ni·an •adj., n.

laconic (lэ kän´ik) •adj. brief or terse in speech or expression; using few words SYN. CONCISE la·con´i·cal·ly •adv. [L Laconicus < Gr Lakōnikos, Laconian < Lakōn, a Laconian, Spartan]

laconism (læk´э niz'эm) •n. 1 brevity of speech or expression 2 a laconic speech or expression Also la·con·i·cism (lэ kän´i siz'эm) [Gr Lakōnismos < Lakōnizein, to imitate the Laconians]

lacquer (læk´эr) •n. 1 a coating substance consisting of resinous materials, as cellulose esters or ethers, shellac, or gum or alkyd resins, dissolved in ethyl alcohol or other solvent that evaporates rapidly on application, leaving a tough, adherent film: pigments are often added to form lacquer enamels 2 a resinous varnish obtained from certain Chinese and Japanese trees (esp. Toxicodendron verniciflua) of the cashew family, used to give a hard, smooth, highly polished finish to wood 3 a decorative article or articles made of wood and coated with this lacquer: in full lac´quer·ware' or lac´quer·work' •vt. to coat with or as with lacquer lac´quer·er •n. [Fr laquer, earlier lacre < Port < laca, gum lac < Hindi lākh: see LAC]

lacrimal (læk´ri mэl) •adj. 1 Anat. designating, of, or near the glands that secrete tears 2 LACHRYMAL (sense 1)

lacrimation (læk'ri mei´shэn) •n. normal or excessive secretion or shedding of tears [L lacrimatio, a weeping < pp. of lacrimare, to weep < lacrima, TEAR²]

lacrimator (læk´ri meit'эr) •n. LACHRYMATOR

lacrimatory (-mэ tör'i:) pl. -ries •adj., n. LACHRYMATORY

lacrosse (lэ krös´) •n. a ballgame in which two teams of ten men or twelve women each, using long-handled, pouched rackets, try to advance a small rubber ball across the field into the opponents' goal: the game was first played by North American Indians [CdnFr < Fr la, the + crosse, a crutch, hockey stick < ML crucia: see CROSIER]

lact- (lækt) combining form LACTO-: used before a vowel

lactam (læk´tæm') •n. any of a group of organic cyclic compounds containing the NHCO group in the ring, formed by the elimination of water from the amino and carboxyl groups; inner anhydride of an amino acid [LACT(ONE) + AM(INO)]

lactary (læk´tэ ri:) •adj. [Rare] of or pertaining to milk [L lactarius < lac (gen. lactis), milk: see LACTO-]

lactase (læk´teis') •n. an enzyme, present in certain yeasts and in the intestines of animals, which splits lactose into glucose and galactose [LACT(O)- + (DIAST)ASE]

lactate (-teit') -tat'ed, -tat'ing •vi. to secrete milk •n. 1 a salt of lactic acid containing the monovalent, negative radical C3H5O3 2 an uncharged ester of lactic acid [< L lactatus, pp. of lactare, secrete milk, suckle < lac: see LACTO-]

lactation (læk tei´shэn) •n. 1 the secretion of milk by a mammary gland 2 the period during which milk is secreted 3 the suckling of young lac·ta´tion·al •adj. [LL lactatio: see LACTATE]

lacteal (læk´ti: эl) •adj. 1 of or like milk; milky 2 containing or carrying chyle, the milky fluid that is a product of digestion •n. any of the lymphatic vessels that take up this fluid from the small intestine and carry it to the thoracic duct [< L lacteus, milky < lac (see LACTO-) + -AL]

lactescent (læk tes´ªnt) •adj. 1 becoming milky 2 of a milky appearance 3 a) secreting milk b) forming or exuding a milky fluid (said of certain plants) lac·tes´cence •n. [L lactescens, prp. of lactescere, to turn into milk < lactare: see LACTATE]

lactic (læk´tik) •adj. of or obtained from milk [Fr lactique: see LACTO- + -IC]

lactic acid a yellowish or clear, syrupy organic acid, CH3CHOHCOOH, produced by the fermentation of lactose when milk sours or from sucrose and some other carbohydrates by the action of certain microorganisms, and used in tanning leather, as a preservative, in the formation of plasticizers, etc.

lactiferous (læk tif´эr эs) •adj. 1 yielding or conveying milk 2 forming a milky fluid [LL lactifer < L lac (see LACTO-) + ferre, to BEAR¹ + -OUS]

lacto- (læk´tou, -tэ) combining form 1 milk {lactometer} 2 Chem. lactic acid or lactate {lactobacillus} [< L lac (gen. lactis), milk < IE base *glak- > GALACTIC]

lactobacillus (læk'tou bэ sil´эs) pl. -cil´li' (-ai') •n. any of a genus (Lactobacillus) of bacteria that ferment milk, carbohydrates, etc., producing lactic acid and carbon dioxide: found as saprophytes or as parasites in the mouth, intestinal tract, and vagina of humans and other mammals [ModL < prec. + BACILLUS]

lactoflavin (-flei´vin) •n. RIBOFLAVIN [LACTO- + FLAVIN]

lactogenic (-jen´ik) •adj. capable of inducing milk secretion {lactogenic hormone} [LACTO- + -GENIC]

lactometer (læk täm´эt эr) •n. a hydrometer for determining the specific gravity, and hence the richness, of milk [LACTO- + -METER]

lactone (læk´toun') •n. any of a group of organic cyclic esters formed by the elimination of a molecule of water from the OH and COOH groups of a molecule of a hydroxy acid [LACT(O)- + -ONE]

lactoprotein (læk'tou prou´ti:n', -prout´i: in) •n. any of the proteins found in milk

lactose (læk´tous') •n. a white, crystalline disaccharide found in milk and prepared by evaporation of the whey leaving the crystallized sugar: used in infant foods, medicine, etc. [LACT(O)- + -OSE¹]

lacuna (lэ kyu:´nэ) pl. -nas or -nae (-ni:) •n. 1 a space where something has been omitted or has come out; gap; hiatus; esp., a missing portion in a manuscript, text, etc. 2 Anat., Biol. a space, cavity, or depression; specif., any of the very small cavities in bone that are filled with bone cells [L, a ditch, hole, pool < lacus: see LAKE¹]

lacunar (-nэr) •adj. of or having a lacuna or lacunae Also la·cu´nal (-nэl) •n. pl. la·cu´nars or lac·u·nar·i·a (læk'yu: ner´i: э) Archit. 1 a ceiling made up of sunken panels 2 a sunken panel in such a ceiling [L < lacuna: see LACUNA]

lacunose (-nous') •adj. full of lacunae [L lacunosus]

lacustrine (lэ kûs´trin) •adj. 1 of or having to do with a lake or lakes 2 found or formed in lakes [< Fr lacustre < L lacus, LAKE¹]

lacy (leis´i:) lac´i·er, lac´i·est •adj. 1 of lace 2 like lace; having a delicate open pattern

lad (læd) •n. 1 a boy or youth 2 [Colloq.] any man; fellow: familiar or endearing term [ME ladde < ?]

ladanum (læd´э nэm) •n. LABDANUM [L]

ladder (læd´эr) •n. 1 a) a framework consisting of two parallel sidepieces connected by a series of rungs or crosspieces on which a person steps in climbing up or down b) Naut. any staircase or vertical set of steps 2 anything by means of which a person climbs or rises {the ladder of success} 3 a rising series of steps, stages, or levels 4 [Chiefly Brit.] a run as in a stocking •vt., vi. [Chiefly Brit.] to have or cause to have a ladder, or run [ME < OE hlæder, akin to Ger leiter < IE base *lei-, to incline, LEAN¹]

ladder (truck) HOOK AND LADDER

ladder stitch an embroidery stitch with parallel crossbars in a ladderlike design

ladder-back chair (læd´эr bæk') a chair with a back of two upright posts connected by horizontal slats

laddie (læd´i:) •n. [Chiefly Scot.] a young lad [Scot, dim. of LAD]

lade (leid) lad´ed, lad´ed or lad´en, lad´ing •vt., vi. 1 to load 2 to dip or draw out (water, etc.) with a ladle; bail; ladle [ME laden < OE hladan, akin to Ger laden < IE base *klā-, to set down, lay, place > LADLE, OSlav klasti, to load]

laden¹ (leid´ªn) •adj. 1 loaded 2 burdened; afflicted {laden with sorrow}

laden² (leid´ªn) •vt., vi. [Rare] LADE

la-di-da (lä´di: dä´) •adj. [Colloq.] affected in speech, manners, etc.; pretentiously refined •n. [Colloq.] 1 a la-di-da person 2 affected speech or behavior •interj. an exclamation of derision at affectation, foppishness, etc. Also sp. la´-de-da´ (-di: dä´) [imitation of affected speech]

Ladies' Day a special day on which women may attend a certain event, as a baseball game, free or at reduced cost

ladies' room [also L- r-] a restroom or LAVATORY (sense 2a) for women

ladies'-tresses (lei´di:z tres'iz) •n. any of a genus (Spiranthes) of wild orchids with small, white flowers arranged spirally on spikes

Ladin (lэ di:n´) •n. 1 the dialect of Rhaeto-Romanic spoken in the S Tirol 2 a native speaker of this dialect [Rhaeto-Romanic < L Latinus, Latin]

lading (leid´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of one that lades 2 a load; cargo; freight [LME: see LADE]

Ladino (lэ di:´nou) •n. 1 [Judezmo ladino < Medieval Sp, Latin < L latinus] a) the earlier literary variety of Judezmo, used chiefly for translating sacred Jewish texts b) JUDEZMO2 pl. -nos in Spanish America, a person of mixed ancestry [AmSp] ladino (lэ di:´nou, -dai´-) •n. a large, vigorous strain of the white clover, often grown as a forage crop [prob. < It Ladino, of the Ladin-speaking area of the Tirol and Grisons < L Latinus, LATIN]

ladle (leid´ªl) •n. 1 a long-handled, cuplike spoon for dipping out liquids 2 any similar device, as a large container for carrying and pouring molten metal •vt. -dled, -dling 1 to dip out or serve with or as with a ladle 2 to lift out and carry in a ladle 3 [Colloq.] to distribute generously: with out la´dle·ful', pl. -fuls', •n. [ME ladel < OE hlædel, a ladle: see LADE]

Ladoga (lä´dö gä'), Lake lake in NW Russia, near the border of Finland: largest lake in Europe: c. 7,000 sq. mi. (18,130 sq. km)

ladrone (lэ droun´) •n. a robber or bandit in Spanish-speaking regions [Sp ladrón < L latro, hired servant, mercenary, freebooter: see LARCENY]

lady (leid´i:) pl. -dies •n. 1 the mistress of a household: now obsolete except in the phrase the lady of the house 2 a woman who has the rights, rule, or authority of a lord 3 a woman of high social position 4 a woman who is polite, refined, and well-mannered 5 any woman: a polite term, esp. as (in pl.) a form of address 6 [Old-fashioned] a woman with reference to the man who is her devoted attendant, lover, etc. 7 [L-] in Great Britain, the title of respect given to a marchioness, countess, viscountess, or baroness; to the daughter of a duke, marquis, or earl; or to the wife of a baronet, knight, or holder of the courtesy title Lord 8 this title as a form of address for a woman holding the title Lady, now used only by servants, salespeople, etc.: preceded by My 9 [Colloq.] a MISTRESS (sense 4) or GIRLFRIEND (sense 1), esp. one who is cohabiting •adj. [Colloq.] female {a lady barber} [L-] the Virgin Mary: usually with Our SYN. WOMAN [ME lavedi < OE hlæfdige, lady, mistress < hlaf, LOAF¹ + -dige < dæge, (bread) kneader < IE base *dheigh-: see DOUGH]

Lady Bountiful a charitable woman, esp. one who gives ostentatiously [after a character in Farquhar's comedy The Beaux' Stratagem (1707)]

Lady chapel a chapel, as in a cathedral or parish church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary

Lady Day Brit. name for THE ANNUNCIATION (sense 2)

Lady of the Lake Arthurian Legend Vivian, mistress of Merlin; she lives in a castle surrounded by a lake

ladybird (beetle) (-børd') LADYBUG Also lady beetle [short for Our Lady's bird]

ladybug (-bûg') •n. any of a family (Coccinellidae) of small, roundish beetles with spotted backs, usually brightly colored: they feed chiefly on insect pests and their eggs [see LADYBIRD]

ladyfinger (-fiŋ'gэr) •n. a small spongecake shaped somewhat like a finger

ladyfish (-fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' or -fish'es any of various fishes; esp., a tropical tenpounder (Elops saurus) •n.

lady-in-waiting (-in weit´iŋ) pl. la´dies-in-wait´ing •n. a lady of the court attending, or waiting upon, a queen or princess

lady-killer (-kil'эr) •n. [Old Slang] a man to whom women are supposed to be irresistibly attracted

ladylike (-laik') •adj. like, characteristic of, or suitable for a lady; refined; well-bred SYN. FEMALE

ladylove (-lûv') •n. a female sweetheart

lady's (or ladies') man a man very fond of the company of women and very attentive to them

lady's room [also L- r-] LADIES' ROOM

ladyship (leid´i: ship') •n. 1 the rank or position of a lady 2 [usually L-] a title used in speaking to or of a woman holding the title Lady: preceded by Your or Her

lady-slipper (-slip'эr) •n. 1 CYPRIPEDIUM 2 any of various cultivated orchids whose flowers somewhat resemble a slipper Also la´dy's-slip'per

lady's-smock (leid´i:z smäk') •n. CUCKOOFLOWER (sense 1)

lady's-thumb (-θûm') •n. an annual plant (Polygonum persicaria) of the buckwheat family, with dense spikes of pinkish or purplish flowers

lady's-tresses (-tres'iz) •n. LADIES'-TRESSES

laeotropic (li:´ou träp'ik) •adj. spiraling to the left if viewed from the side, as the sinistral whorls in some gastropod shells: opposed to DEXIOTROPIC [< Gr laios, left (see LEVO-) + -TROPIC]

Laertes (lei ør´ti:z') 1 Gr. Myth. the father of Odysseus 2 in Shakespeare's Hamlet, the brother of Ophelia [L < Gr Laertēs]

laetrile (lei´э tril') •n. any of several organic compounds obtained from various related plant substances, as apricot kernels and almond seeds, and claimed by unorthodox practitioners to be effective in a program of treating many types of cancer [lae(vorotatory glycosidic ni)trile]

laevo- (li:´vou, -vэ) combining form LEVO-

Lafayette (lä'fi: et´, -fei-; læf'i:-; Fr lå få yet´), Marquis de (born Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier) 1757-1834; Fr. general & statesman: served (1777-81) in the Continental army in the American Revolution Lafayette (læf'i: et´; lä'fi:-, -fei-; also, for 1, lei'fi: et´, &, for 2, lэ fei´it) 1 city in WC Ind.: pop. 44,000 2 city in SC La.: pop. 94,000 [after Marquis de LAFAYETTE]

Laffer Curve (læf´эr) [also L- c-] a graph illustrating a theory which maintains that increasing tax rates beyond a certain point causes a reduction in government revenues by discouraging production and investment [after A. Laffer (1940- ), U.S. economist, its originator]

Lafitte (lå fi:t´), Jean (zhäñ) c. 1780-c. 1826; Fr. pirate in the Gulf of Mexico: also sp. Laf·fite´

lag bolt LAG SCREW

Lag b'Omer (läg' bou´mэr) a Jewish holiday observed on the 18th day of Iyar [Heb lag bōmer, 33d (day) of the omer (the count of 49 days from the second day of Passover to the first day of Shabuoth)]

lag screw a wood screw with a boltlike head: see SCREW, illus.

lag¹ (læg) lagged, lag´ging •vi. 1 a) to fall, move, or stay behind; loiter; linger b) to move or develop more slowly than expected, desired, etc.; be retarded in motion, development, etc. 2 to become gradually less intense, strong, etc.; wane; flag 3 to toss a marble toward a line marked on the ground to determine the order of play 4 Billiards to strike the cue ball so that it rebounds from the far rail to stop as close as possible to the near rail or the string line: done to decide the order of play •n. 1 a falling behind or being retarded in motion, development, etc. 2 the amount of such falling behind; interval between two related events, processes, etc. {the lag of peak current behind peak voltage} 3 a lagging, as in billiards and marbles 4 [Now Rare] one that lags, or is last [? akin to obs. Dan lakke, to go slowly]

lag² (læg) •n. a strip of insulating material used for covering boilers, cylinders, etc. •vt. lagged, lag´ging to cover with insulating material [prob. < Scand, as in Swed lagg, barrel stave < IE base *leu-, to cut off > L luere, to cleanse, purge]

lag³ (læg) lagged, lag´ging •vt. [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] 1 to imprison 2 to arrest •n. [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] 1 a convict or ex-convict: often old lag 2 a term of imprisonment [< ?]

lagan (læg´эn) •n. Maritime Law goods cast overboard, as in a storm, with a buoy attached to identify the owner [< OFr, goods washed up by the sea < ? base of ON leggja, to lie]

lager (beer) (lä´gэr) a type of beer which is stored at a low temperature for several months for aging after it has been brewed [Ger lagerbier, lit., store beer < lager, storehouse (akin to OE leger: see LAIR) + bier, BEER]

Lagerkvist (lä´gэr kvist'; Swed lä´gэř kvist'), Pär (Fabian) (pæř) 1891-1974; Swed. poet, novelist, & playwright

Lagerlöf (lä´gэř løf'), Selma (Ottiliana Lovisa) (sel´mä) 1858-1940; Swed. novelist

laggard (læg´эrd) •n. a slow person, esp. one who is always falling behind; loiterer •adj. slow or late in doing things; falling behind lag´gard·ly •adv., adj. [< LAG¹ + -ARD]

lagger (læg´эr) •n. a person or thing that lags

lagging (læg´iŋ) •n. 1 thermal insulation for wrapping around pipes, boilers, etc. 2 a wood framework to support an arch while it is being built 3 Mining planks or timber used to prevent rocks from falling in a shaft or drift [< LAG² + -ING]

lagniappe or lagnappe (læn yæp´, læn´yæp') •n. 1 [Chiefly South] a small present given to a customer with a purchase 2 a gratuity or the like [Creole < Fr la, the + Sp ñapa, lagniappe < Quechuan yapa]

lagomorph (læg´э mörf') •n. any of an order (Lagomorpha) of plant-eating mammals characterized by a short tail and two pairs of upper incisors, one behind the other, and consisting of the rabbits, hares, and pikas lag'o·mor´phic •adj. [< Gr lagōs, hare + -MORPH]

lagoon (lэ gu:n´) •n. 1 a shallow lake or pond, esp. one connected with a larger body of water 2 the area of water enclosed by a circular coral reef, or atoll 3 an area of shallow salt water separated from the sea by sand dunes [< Fr lagune & It laguna < L lacuna: see LACUNA]

Lagos (lei´gäs', -gэs) seaport in Nigeria, on the Bight of Benin: former capital: pop. 1,061,000

Lagrange (lå gřäñzh), Comte Jo·seph Louis de (zhô zef lwi:´ dэ) 1736-1813; Fr. mathematician & astronomer

lahar (lä´här', lä här´) •n. 1 a mudflow down the side of a volcano, containing pieces of hardened lava, ash, etc. 2 the deposit of such a mudflow

lah-di-dah or lah-de-dah (lä´di: dä´) •adj., n., interj. LA-DI-DA

Lahore (lэ hör´, lä-) city in NE Pakistan: pop. 2,922,000

laic (lei´ik) •adj. of the laity; secular; lay Also la´i·cal •n. a layman [LL(Ec) laicus, not priestly < Gr laikos < laos, the people]

laicism (lei´i siz'эm) •n. policy and principles opposing clericalism and restricting political influence and power to the laity

laicize (-saiz') -cized', -ciz'ing •vt. 1 to reduce (a cleric) to the lay state; make a layman of 2 to remove clerical influence from; restrict to laymen; secularize la'i·ci·za´tion •n. [LAIC + -IZE]

laid (leid) •vt., vi. pt. & pp. of LAY¹

laid paper paper having evenly spaced parallel lines watermarked in it

laid-back (-bæk´) •adj. [Slang] relaxed, calm, easygoing, etc.; not frenetic, hurried, or forced

laigh (leikh) •adj., adv. [Scot.] low

lain (lein) •vi. pp. of LIE¹

Laing (læŋ), R(onald) D(avid) 1927-89; Brit. psychiatrist

lair (ler) •n. 1 a bed or resting place of a wild animal; den 2 any place of refuge or for hiding •vi. to go to, rest in, or have a lair [ME lier < OE leger, lit., lying place, hence bed, couch (in Du, a camp) < Gmc base (*leg-) of licgan, to LIE¹]

laird (lerd; Scot leiřd) •n. in Scotland, a landowner, esp. a wealthy one laird´ly •adj. [Scot form of LORD]

laissez faire (les'ei fer´) the policy or practice of letting people act without interference or direction; noninterference; specif., the policy of letting the owners of industry and business fix the rules of competition, the conditions of labor, etc. as they please, without governmental regulation or control Also sp. lais'ser faire´ lais'sez-faire´ •adj. [Fr, lit., let (people) do (as they please)]

laissez-passer (le sei på sei´) •n. a pass authorizing access to a place, travel in a country, etc. [Fr, let (someone) pass]

laity (lei´i ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 all the people not included among the clergy; laymen collectively 2 all the people not belonging to any given profession [LAY³ + -ITY]

Laius (lei´yэs) Gr. Myth. a king of Thebes and the father of OEDIPUS [L < Gr Laios]

Lake (leik), Simon 1866-1945; U.S. engineer & naval architect

Lake Charles city in SW La.: pop. 71,000 [after Charles Sallier, an early settler]

Lake District (or Country) lake & mountain region in Cumbria county, NW England: see CUMBERLAND, WESTMORLAND, LANCASHIRE

lake dwelling a dwelling built on wooden piles rising above the surface of a lake or marshy land; esp., such a structure built in prehistoric times lake dweller

lake herring a trout (Coregonus artedii) of the Great Lakes

Lake of the Woods lake in N Minn. & in Ontario & Manitoba, Canada: 1,485 sq. mi. (3,846 sq. km) [descriptive]

Lake poets the English poets Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Southey, who lived in the Lake District

lake trout Æ 1 a large gray trout (Salvelinus namaycush) of deep lakes of the N U.S. and Canada 2 any of several other species of trout found in lakes

lake¹ (leik) •n. 1 an inland body of usually fresh water, larger than a pool or pond, generally formed by some obstruction in the course of flowing water 2 a pool of oil or other liquid [ME < OE lacu & OFr lac, both < L lacus, a basin, lake < IE base *laku-, accumulation of water, pond, lake > LOCH, OE lagu, water, sea]

lake² (leik) •n. 1 a) a dark-red pigment prepared from cochineal b) its color 2 an insoluble coloring compound precipitated from a solution of a dye by adding a metallic salt, which acts as a mordant: used in applying dyes to cloth, in printing inks, paints, etc. [Fr laque: see LAC]

Lakeland (leik´lэnd) city in WC Fla.: pop. 71,000 [descriptive]

Lakeland terrier (leik´lэnd) any of a breed of terrier with a long head, a square build, and a hard, wiry coat [after the LAKE DISTRICT, where orig. bred]

laker (leik´эr) •n. 1 a fish, esp. a trout, found in lakes 2 a ship operating on lakes, esp. the Great Lakes

Lakewood (leik´wud') 1 city in NC Colo.: suburb of Denver: pop. 126,000 2 city in SW Calif.: suburb of Los Angeles: pop. 74,000 3 city in NE Ohio, on Lake Erie: suburb of Cleveland: pop. 60,000 [descriptive]

lakh (læk) •n. in India and Pakistan, a) the sum of 100,000 (said specifically of rupees) b) any indefinitely large number [Hindi lākh < Sans laksa]

Lakshadweep (lûk shäd´wi:p') territory of India comprising the Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi islands: 12.4 sq. mi. (32 sq. km); pop. 40,000

laky (leik´i:) •adj. of the color of the pigment called lake

Lallan (læl´эn) •adj. [Scot.] of the Lowlands of Scotland

Lallans (læl´эnz) •n. the English dialect of the Scottish Lowlands, esp. in its written form Also Lal´lan

lallation (læ lei´shэn) •n. LAMBDACISM [< pp. of L lallare, to sing a lullaby]

lallygag (läl´i: gæg') -gagged', -gag'ging •vi. [Colloq.] LOLLYGAG

Lalo (lå lou´), É·douard (Victor Antoine) (ei dwåř´) 1823-92; Fr. composer

Lam Bible Lamentations

lam¹ (læm) lammed, lam´ming •vt., vi. [Old Slang] to beat; hit; strike [< Scand, as in ON lemja, lit., to lame: see LAME¹]

lam² (læm) •n. [Slang] headlong flight, usually to escape punishment for a crime •vi. lammed, lam´ming [Slang] to flee; escape on the lam [Slang] in flight, as from the police take it on the lam to make a getaway; escape [< ? prec.: cf. slang beat it!]

lama (lä´mэ) •n. a priest or monk in Lamaism: cf. DALAI LAMA [Tibetan blama, a chief, high priest]

Lamaism (lä´mэ iz'эm) •n. a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Mongolia, characterized by elaborate ritual and a strong hierarchal organization La´ma·ist •adj., n. La'ma·is´tic •adj.

Lamarck (lэ märk´; Fr lå måřk´), Chevalier de (born Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet) 1744-1829; Fr. naturalist: see LAMARCKISM

Lamarckian (lэ märk´i: эn) •adj. of Lamarck or Lamarckism •n. an adherent of Lamarckism

Lamarckism (lэ märk´iz'эm) •n. a theory of organic evolution advanced by Lamarck that claimed acquired characters can be inherited

Lamartine (læm'эr tэn´; Fr lå måř ti:n´), Al·phonse Ma·rie Louis de (Prat de) (ål fouñs må ři: lwi:´dэ) 1790-1869; Fr. poet

lamasery (lä´mэ ser'i:) pl. -ser'ies •n. a monastery of lamas

Lamaze (lэ mäz´) •n. a training program in natural childbirth, emphasizing breathing control and relaxation during labor together with the presence and encouraging assistance of the father [after F. Lamaze, 20th-c. Fr physician, who developed it]

Lamb (læm) 1 Charles (pen name Elia) 1775-1834; Eng. essayist & critic 2 Mary (Ann) 1764-1847; Eng. writer: sister of Charles & coauthor with him of Tales from Shakespeare 3 Willis Eugene 1913- ; U.S. physicist lamb (læm) •n. 1 a young sheep 2 the flesh of a young sheep, used as food 3 lambskin 4 a gentle or innocent person, particularly a child 5 a loved person; dear 6 a person easily tricked or outwitted, as an inexperienced speculator •vi. to give birth: said of a ewe the Lamb Jesus [ME < OE, akin to Ger lamm (OHG lamb) < IE *lonbhos (< base *el-: see ELK) > Goth lamb]

Lamb of God Jesus: so called by analogy with the paschal lamb: John 1:29, 36

lambaste (læm beist´, -bæst´) -bast´ed, -bast´ing •vt. [Colloq.] 1 to beat soundly; thrash 2 to scold or denounce severely Also sp. lam·bast´ [LAM¹ + BASTE³]

lambda (læm´dэ) name of the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet (Λ, λ) •n. [Gr < Sem, as in Heb lāmedh, LAMED]

lambdacism (læm´dэ siz'эm) •n. substitution of the sound (l) for another sound, esp. (r), or of another sound, esp. (r), for (l) [LL lambdacismus < Gr lambdakismos < lambdakizein, to pronounce l imperfectly < lambda, prec.]

lambdoid (-doid') •adj. shaped like the Greek lambda (λ); specif., designating the suture that connects the occipital and the parietal bones of the skull [Gr lambdoeidēs: see LAMBDA & -OID]

lambent (læm´bэnt) •adj. 1 playing lightly over a surface; flickering: said of a flame, etc. 2 giving off a soft glow {a lambent sky} 3 playing lightly and gracefully over a subject: said of wit, humor, etc. lam´ben·cy •n. lam´bent·ly •adv. [L lambens, prp. of lambere, to lick, lap < IE base *lab- > LAP²]

lambert (læm´bэrt) •n. the cgs unit of brightness, equal to the brightness of a perfectly diffusing surface that radiates or reflects light at the rate of one lumen per square centimeter [after J. H. Lambert (1728-77), Ger mathematician, physicist, & philosopher]

Lambert (conformal conic) projection (læm´bэrt) a map projection in which all meridians are represented by straight lines radiating from a common point outside the mapped area and the parallels are represented by arcs or circles whose center is this same common point: this projection may have one or two standard parallels that maintain exact scale, while the scale varies along the meridians, and, since the meridians and parallels intersect at right angles, angles between locations on the surface of the earth are correctly shown [see LAMBERT]

Lambeth (læm´bэθ) borough of S Greater London: site of the official residence (Lambeth Palace) of the archbishops of Canterbury since 1197: pop. 244,000

lambkill (læm´kil') •n. Æ SHEEP LAUREL

lambkin (læm´kin) •n. a little lamb: sometimes applied to a child or young person as a term of affection

lamblike (-laik') •adj. like, or having qualities attributed to, a lamb; gentle, meek, innocent, etc.

lambrequin (læm´brэ kin, -bэr-) •n. 1 a fabric covering for a knight's helmet Æ 2 a drapery hanging from a shelf or covering the upper part of a window or doorway [Fr < Du *lamperkin < lamper, a veil + -ken, -KIN]

Lambrusco (läm bru:s´kou, læm-; -brus´-) [sometimes l-] a red wine, usually sparkling, from N Italy

lambskin (læm´skin') •n. 1 the skin of a lamb, esp. with the fleece left on it 2 leather or parchment made from the skin of a lamb

lamb's-quarters (læmz´kwört'эrz) •n. an annual weed (Chenopodium album) of the goosefoot family, with whitened or mealy leaves and dense clusters of small green flowers, sometimes used for greens

lamé (læ mei´, lä-) •n. a fabric of silk, wool, or cotton interwoven with metal threads, as of gold or silver [Fr, laminated < lame: see LAME2]

lame duck 1 a disabled, ineffectual, or helpless person or thing Æ 2 an elected official whose term extends beyond the time of the election at which he or she was not reelected

lame¹ (leim) •adj. 1 crippled; disabled; esp., having an injured leg or foot that makes one limp 2 stiff and very painful {a lame back} 3 poor, weak, unconvincing, ineffectual, etc. {a lame excuse} •vt. lamed, lam´ing to make lame Æ n. [Slang] a person who is conventional, conservative, old-fashioned, etc.; square lame´ly •adv. lame´ness •n. [ME < OE lama, akin to Ger lahm, ON lami < IE base *lem-, to break > Russ lomat', to break]

lame² (leim; Fr låm) •n. 1 a thin metal plate 2 [pl.] the thin, overlapping metal plates in a piece of armor [Fr < L lamina: see LAMINA]

lamebrain (leim´brein') •n. [Colloq.] a slow-witted or stupid person; dolt; numskull lame´brained' •adj.

lamed (lä´mid) name of the twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet (ל) •n. [Heb lāmedh, lit., a whip or club]

lamella (lэ mel´э) pl. -lae (-i:) •n.or -las a thin, platelike part, layer, organ, or structure; specif., a) one of the layers of bone around a Haversian canal b) one of the two plates forming a gill in bivalve mollusks c) the gill of an agaric, as a mushroom d) the cementing layer (middle lamella) between two adjacent plant cells la·mel´lar •adj. la·mel´lar·ly •adv. [L, dim. of lamina: see LAMINA]

lamellate (læm´э leit', lэ mel´eit') •adj. 1 having, consisting of, arranged in, or resembling a lamella or lamellae 2 LAMELLIFORM Also lam´el·lat'ed lam'el·la´tion •n. [ModL lamellatus]

lamelli- (lэ mel´i, -mel´э) combining form of, like, or consisting of a lamella or lamellae {lamelliform}

lamellibranch (lэ mel´i bræŋk') •n. BIVALVE •adj. designating or of a bivalve mollusk: also la·mel'li·bran´chi·ate (-bræŋ´ki: it, -eit') [< ModL Lamellibranchia, the class name: see LAMELLI- & BRANCHIAE]

lamellicorn (-körn') •adj. 1 ending in flattened plates: said of the antennae of some beetles 2 having such antennae: said of various beetles •n. a lamellicorn beetle, as a scarab beetle [< ModL lamellicornis < LAMELLI- + L cornu, HORN]

lamelliform (-förm') •adj. having the form of a lamella; platelike or scalelike

lamellirostral (lэ mel'i räs´trэl) •adj. of certain waterfowl, as ducks, geese, and swans, with lamellate strainers on the inner edge of the bill Also la·mel'li·ros´trate' (-treit') [< ModL lamellirostris: see LAMELLI- & ROSTRAL]

lamellose (lэ mel´ous', læm´э lous') •adj. LAMELLATE lam'el·los´i·ty (-läs´i ti:) •n.

lament (lэ ment´) •vi. to feel deep sorrow or express it as by weeping or wailing; mourn; grieve •vt. 1 to feel or express deep sorrow for; mourn or grieve for 2 to regret deeply •n. 1 an outward expression of sorrow; lamentation; wail 2 a literary or musical composition, as an elegy or dirge, mourning some death or calamity [Fr lamenter < L lamentari < lamentum, a mourning, wailing < IE echoic base *lā- > Arm lam, I weep]

lamentable (læm´эn tэ bэl; often lэ men´tэ bэl) •adj. 1 to be lamented; grievous; deplorable; distressing 2 [Now Rare] expressing sorrow; mournful lam´en·ta·bly •adv. [ME < MFr < L lamentabilis]

lamentation (læm'эn tei´shэn) •n. the act of lamenting; outward expression of grief; esp., a weeping or wailing

Lamentations (-shэnz) Bible a book traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah, lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem: abbrev. Lam or La [LL(Ec) Lamentationes, transl. in Vulg. for Gr thrēnoi, in LXX]

lamented (lэ ment´id) •adj. mourned for: usually said of someone dead la·ment´ed·ly •adv.

lamia (lei´mi: э) •n. 1 Class. Myth. any of a class of monsters, half woman and half serpent, supposed to lure people, esp. children, in order to suck their blood 2 a vampire; female demon; sorceress [ME lamya < L lamia < Gr; akin to lamos, abyss < IE base *lem-, with gaping mouth > L lemures, ghost (see LEMUR), Welsh llef, voice]

lamina (læm´i nэ) pl. -nae' (-ni:') or -nas •n. 1 a thin flake, scale, or layer, as of metal or animal tissue 2 the flat, expanded part of a leaf; blade, as distinguished from the petiole [L, thin piece of metal or wood < ? IE *(s)tlamen, a spreading out < base *stel-, to spread]

laminable (læm´i nэ bэl) •adj. that can be laminated

laminar (læm´i nэr) •adj. composed of, arranged in, or like laminae Also lam´i·nal (-nэl)

laminar flow the regular, continuous, smooth movement of a fluid

laminaria (læm'i ner´i: э) •n. any of a genus (Laminaria) of marine kelp having fluted, ribbonlike blades attached at one end to a stalk and holdfast [ModL < L lamina: see LAMINA]

laminate (læm´i neit'; for adj. & n., usually, -nit) -nat'ed, -nat'ing •vt. 1 to form or press into a thin sheet or layer 2 to separate into laminae 3 to cover with or bond to one or more thin layers, as of clear plastic 4 to make by building up in layers •vi. to split into laminae •adj. LAMINATED •n. something made by laminating lam´i·na'tor •n. [< ModL laminatus < L lamina: see LAMINA]

laminated (-neit'id) •adj. 1 composed of or built in thin sheets or layers, as of fabric, wood, plastic, etc., that have been bonded or pressed together, sometimes under heat 2 covered with a thin protective layer, as of clear plastic

lamination (læm'i nei´shэn) •n. 1 a laminating or being laminated 2 a laminated structure; something built up in layers 3 a thin layer

laminectomy (læm'i nek´tэ mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical removal of all or part of the bony arch of a spinal vertebra [LAMIN(A) + -ECTOMY]

laminitis (-nait´is) •n. an inflammation of laminae in a horse's hoof [ModL: see -ITIS]

Lammas (læm´эs) 1 a harvest festival formerly held in England on Aug. 1, when bread baked from the first crop of wheat was consecrated at Mass 2 this day (Lammas Day) or this time (Lam´mas·tide') of the year [ME lammasse < OE hlammæsse, for hlafmæsse, lit., loaf mass, bread feast: see LOAF¹ & MASS]

lammergeier or lammergeyer (læm´эr gai'эr) •n. a very large Old World vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) with grayish-black plumage streaked with white and a tuft of bristles over the nostrils and under the bill; bearded vulture [Ger lämmergeier < lämmer, pl. of lamm, LAMB + geier, vulture, akin to gier, greed < IE base *ghī-, var. of ghē- > GAPE]