long-distance (-dis´tэns) •adj. 1 to or from a distant place or places {long-distance telephone calls} 2 that covers a long distance {a long-distance runner} •adv. by long-distance telephone service

long-drawn-out (löŋ´drön´aut´) •adj. continuing for a long or very long time; prolonged Also long´-drawn´

longe (lûnj) •n. 1 a long rope fastened to a horse's head and held by the trainer, who causes the horse to move around in a circle 2 the use of the longe in training horses •vt. longed, longe´ing or long´ing to put (a horse) through his paces, using a longe [Fr, back-form. < allonge, extension < allonger < LL elongare: see ELONGATE]

longeron (län´jэ rän', -rэn) •n. a main structural member along the length of an airplane fuselage, nacelle, etc. [Fr]

longevity (län jev´э ti:, lön-) •n. 1 a) long life; great span of life b) the length or duration of a life or lives 2 length of time spent in service, employment, etc. [L longaevitas < longaevus: see LONGEVOUS]

longevous (län ji:´vэs) •adj. [Rare] long-lived [L longaevus < longus, LONG¹ + aevum, age: see ETERNAL]

Longfellow (löŋ´fel'ou), Henry Wads·worth (wädz´wørθ') 1807-82; U.S. poet

Longford (löŋ´fэrd) county in Leinster province, EC Ireland: 403 sq. mi. (1,043 sq. km); pop. 31,000

longhair (löŋ´her') •adj. designating or of intellectuals or their tastes; specif., playing or preferring classical music rather than jazz or popular tunes Also long´haired' •n. [Colloq.] an intellectual; specif., a longhair musician Sometimes used disparagingly

longhand (-hænd') •n. ordinary handwriting, in which the words are written out in full, as distinguished from shorthand or from typing

longhead (-hed') •n. a dolichocephalic person

long-headed (-hed'id) •adj. 1 DOLICHOCEPHALIC 2 having much foresight, good sense, or shrewdness; sagacious Also long´head'ed long´-head'ed·ness •n.

longhorn (-hörn') •n. 1 any of a breed of long-horned cattle raised in great numbers in the Southwest in the 19th cent. and later crossed with English stock to create improved beef and dairy breeds Æ 2 a typically orange-colored Cheddar cheese, shaped during manufacture in long, cylindrical molds: in full longhorn cheese

long-horned beetle (löŋ'hörnd') any of a family (Cerambycidae) of slender beetles having very long antennae and wood-eating larvae

long-horned grasshopper any of a family (Tettigoniidae) of greenish grasshoppers with long antennae

longi- (län´ji, -jэ) combining form long {longicorn} [L < longus, long]

longicorn (län´ji körn') •adj. having long feelers, or antennae, as the long-horned beetles [< prec. + L cornu, HORN]

longies (löŋ´i:z) •n.pl. [Colloq.] LONG JOHNS

longing (löŋ´iŋ) •n. strong desire; yearning •adj. feeling or showing a yearning long´ing·ly •adv. [see LONG²]

Longinus (län jai´nэs), Dionysius Cassius c. A.D. 213-273; Gr. Platonic philosopher & rhetorician

longish (löŋ´ish) •adj. somewhat long

longitude (län´jэ tu:d', -tyu:d'; lön´-) •n. 1 length 2 distance east or west on the earth's surface, measured as an arc of the equator (in degrees up to 180° or by the difference in time) between the meridian passing through a particular place and a standard or prime meridian, usually the one passing through Greenwich, England: see LATITUDE, illus. 3 Astron. see CELESTIAL LONGITUDE [ME < L longitudo < longus, LONG¹]

longitudinal (län'jэ tu:d´ªn эl, -tyu:d´-; lön'-) •adj. 1 of or in length 2 running or placed lengthwise: opposed to TRANSVERSE 3 of longitude 4 designating or of studies dealing with the development of an individual or group over a period of years lon'gi·tu´di·nal·ly •adv. [ML longitudinalis]

longleaf pine (löŋ´li:f') a pine (Pinus palustris) native to the S U.S., having very long needles and valued for its hard, heavy wood

long-lived (löŋ´laivd', -livd') •adj. having or tending to have a long life span or existence [LONG¹ + -LIVED]

Longmont (löŋ´mänt) city in NC Colo.: pop. 52,000 [after LONGS PEAK + Fr mont, mountain]

Longobard (läŋ´gou bärd') pl. -bards' or Lon'go·bar´di (-bär´di:) LOMBARD (n. 2) •n. Lon'go·bar´dic •adj. [LL Longobardus < L Langobardus: see LOMBARD]

long-playing (löŋ´plei´iŋ) •adj. designating or of a phonograph record having microgrooves, for playing at 33¹/3 revolutions per minute

long-range (löŋ´reinj´) •adj. 1 designating or of a gun, aircraft, missile, etc. that has a range of great distance 2 taking the future into consideration {long-range plans}

long-run (-rûn´) •adj. extending over a long time

Longs Peak (löŋz) peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, NC Colo.: 14,255 ft. (4,345 m) [after S. H. Long (1784-1864), U.S. engineer]

longshore (-shör') •adj. existing, occurring, working, etc. along the shore or waterfront •adv. along the shore [aphetic for ALONGSHORE]

longshoreman (-shör'mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a person whose work is loading and unloading ships; stevedore [prec. + MAN]

longsighted (löŋ´sait'id) •adj. FARSIGHTED long´sight'ed·ly •adv. long´sight'ed·ness •n.

longsome (-sэm) •adj. [Dial.] lengthy; overly long; tedious [ME langsum < OE < lang, LONG¹ + -sum, -SOME¹]

longspur (löŋ´spør') •n. any of a genus (Calcarius, family Emberizidae) of northern passerine birds distinguished by their long hind claws [LONG¹ + SPUR]

long-standing (-stæn'diŋ) •adj. having continued for a long time Also long´stand'ing

Longstreet (löŋ´stri:t'), James 1821-1904; Confederate general in the Civil War

long-suffering (-sûf´эr iŋ) •adj. bearing injuries, insults, trouble, etc. patiently for a long time •n. long and patient endurance of injuries, insults, trouble, etc.: also [Archaic] long´-suf´fer·ance long´-suf´fer·ing·ly •adv.

long-term (-tørm´) •adj. 1 for or extending over a long time 2 designating or of a capital gain, loan, etc. that involves a relatively long period

longtime (-taim') •adj. over a long period of time

Longueuil (löŋ geil´; Fr louñ gë´yª) city in S Quebec, on the St. Lawrence: a suburb of Montreal: pop. 124,000 [after Charles Le Moyne de Longueuil (1626-85), Fr colonist]

longueur (louñ gëř´; E löŋ gør´) •n. a long, boring section, as in a novel, musical work, etc. [Fr]

Longview (löŋ´vyu:') city in NE Tex.: pop. 70,000 [from the view afforded by its altitude]

long-waisted (löŋ´weis'tid) •adj. unusually long between shoulders and waistline; with a low waistline

longways (-weiz') •adv. LENGTHWISE

long-winded (-win´did) •adj. 1 capable of considerable exertion without getting out of breath 2 a) speaking or writing at great, often tiresome length b) tiresomely long (said of a speech, writing, etc.) long´-wind´ed·ly •adv. long´-wind´ed·ness •n.

longwise (-waiz') •adv. LENGTHWISE

loo¹ (lu:) •n. a former card game played for a pool made up of stakes and forfeits •vt. to cause to pay a forfeit at loo [contr. < lanterloo < Fr lanturelu, name of the game, orig. fanciful word in refrain of a 17th-c. song]

loo² (lu:) •n. [Brit. Slang] a toilet [< Fr lieux, short for les lieux d'aisances, toilets, lit., places of conveniences]

looby (lu:´bi:) pl. -bies •n. [Chiefly Dial.] a big, clumsy fellow; lout [ME loby, prob. akin to LOB, LUBBER]

loofah (lu:´fэ) •n. LUFFA [Ar lūfah]

looie or looey (lu:´i:) •n. [Mil. Slang] a lieutenant

look (luk) •vi. 1 to make use of the sense of sight; see 2 a) to direct one's eyes in order to see b) to direct one's attention mentally upon something 3 to try to see or find something; search 4 to appear to be; seem {to look sick} 5 to be facing or turned in a specified direction 6 to expect: followed by an infinitive •vt. 1 to direct one's eyes on {to look someone in the face} 2 to express by one's looks, or appearance {to look one's disgust} 3 [Rare] to bring to a certain condition by looking 4 to appear as having attained (some age) {to look one's years} •n. 1 the act of looking; glance 2 outward impression; appearance; aspect {the look of a beggar} 3 [Colloq.] [pl.] a) appearance; the way something seems to be {from the looks of things} b) personal appearance, esp. of a pleasing nature {to have looks and youth} •interj. 1 see! 2 pay attention! SYN. APPEARANCE it looks like 1 it seems that there will be {it looks like rain} 2 [Colloq.] it seems as if look after to take care of; watch over look alive (or sharp) [Colloq.] to be alert; act or move quickly: usually in the imperative look back to recall the past; recollect look down on (or upon) 1 to regard as an inferior 2 to regard with contempt; despise look for 1 to search or hunt for 2 to expect; anticipate look forward to to anticipate, esp. eagerly look in (on) to pay a brief visit (to) look into to examine carefully; investigate look on 1 to be an observer or spectator 2 to consider; regard (as) {they looked on her as a born leader} look (like) oneself to appear to be in normal health, spirits, etc. look out to be on the watch; be careful look out for 1 to be wary about 2 to take care of look over to examine; inspect look to 1 to take care of; give attention to 2 to rely upon; resort to 3 to look forward to; expect look up 1 to search for in a book of reference, etc. 2 [Colloq.] to pay a visit to; call on 3 [Colloq.] to get better; improve look up and down 1 to search everywhere 2 to examine with an appraising eye; scrutinize look upon to think of (as); consider {to look upon housework as boring} look up to to regard with great respect [ME loken < OE locian, akin to OS lōkōn, OHG luogēn (Ger dial. lugen), to spy after, look for]

look-alike (luk´э laik') •n. a person or thing that resembles or is made to resemble another, esp. another that is famous, prestigious, etc.

looker (-эr) •n. 1 a person who looks Æ 2 [Slang] a handsome person; esp., a pretty woman

looker-on (luk´эr än') pl. look´ers-on' •n. an observer or spectator; onlooker

look-in (luk´in') •n. 1 a quick glance 2 a brief visit

looking glass a (glass) mirror

lookout (luk´aut') •n. 1 an alert, careful watching for someone or something 2 a place for keeping watch, esp. a high place affording an extensive view 3 a person detailed to watch; sentry 4 [Chiefly Brit.] outlook, esp. for the future 5 [Colloq.] concern; worry {that's your lookout}

Lookout Mountain mountain ridge in Tenn., Ga., & Ala.: the section near Chattanooga was the site of a Civil War battle (1863) in which Union forces defeated the Confederates: highest point, 2,125 ft. (647 m) [descriptive]

look-say method (luk´sei´) a method of teaching beginners to read by memorizing and recognizing whole words, rather than by associating letters with sounds: cf. PHONICS (sense 2) Also look-and-say method (luk´эnd sei´)

look-see (luk´si:') •n. [Colloq.] a quick look or inspection

LOOM Loyal Order of Moose

loom¹ (lu:m) •n. 1 a machine for weaving thread or yarn into cloth 2 the art of weaving: usually with the 3 the part of an oar or paddle between the handle and the blade [ON hlumr] •vt. to weave on a loom [ME lome < OE (ge)loma, tool, utensil]

loom² (lu:m) •vi. to appear, take shape, or come in sight indistinctly as through a mist, esp. in a large, portentous, or threatening form: often with up {the peak loomed up before us} Also used figuratively [the specter of war loomed ahead] •n. a looming appearance, as of a ship in the fog [earlier lome, loam < ?]

loom³ (lu:m) •n. [Brit. Dial.] LOON¹

loon¹ (lu:n) •n. any of an order (Gaviiformes) of fish-eating, diving birds, with a sharp bill and webbed feet, found mainly in subarctic regions: noted for its weird cry [altered (by assoc. with fol.) < earlier loom < ON lomr < IE echoic base *lā- > L latrare, to bark]

loon² (lu:n) •n. 1 a clumsy, stupid person 2 a crazy person 3 [Scot.] a) a boy b) a harlot 4 [Archaic] a) a person of low rank b) a rogue [Scot lown, loun < ME lowen < ? or akin to MDu loen]

loony (lu:n´i:) loon´i·er, loon´i·est •adj. [Slang] crazy; demented •n. pl. loon´ies [Slang] a loony person Also loon´ey, pl. -eys [< LUNATIC]

loony bin [Slang] an institution for the mentally ill

loop antenna Radio a coil of large diameter, used as an antenna, esp. in direction-finding equipment and in radio receivers

loop knot a knot tied in a double rope so that a loop extends beyond it: see KNOT¹, illus.

loop stitch any sewing stitch formed of connected loops

loop¹ (lu:p) •n. 1 a) the more or less circular figure formed by a line, thread, wire, etc. that curves back to cross itself b) a noose 2 anything having or forming this figure {the loop of a written l} 3 a sharp bend, as in a mountain road, which almost comes back upon itself 4 a ring-shaped fastening or ornament {loops for a belt} 5 a plastic intrauterine contraceptive device: usually with the 6 a segment of film or magnetic tape joined end to end to form a continuous strip for endless repetition in mixing or dubbing sound 7 a system consisting of a series of operations or activities in which each depends on the outcome of the previous one, esp., such a system in which the result of a later operation affects an earlier operation, providing continuous feedback 8 Aeron. a looplike airplane maneuver flown in a vertical plane 9 Comput. a sequence of program instructions that are repeatedly executed until certain conditions are reached 10 Elec. a complete circuit 11 Physics the part of a vibrating string, air column, etc. between the nodes; antinode •vt. 1 to make a loop or loops in or of 2 to wrap around one or more times {loop the wire around the post} 3 to fasten with a loop or loops {to loop curtains back} 4 to dub in or rerecord dialogue or other sound into (a movie) 5 Elec. to join (conductors) so as to complete a circuit •vi. 1 to form into a loop or loops 2 to progress as a measuring worm does by alternately straightening the body and drawing it up into a loop 3 Aeron. to perform a loop or loops loop the loop to make a vertical loop in the air, as in an airplane Æ the Loop the main business and shopping district in downtown Chicago [ME loup < Anglo-N forms corresponding to ON hlaup, a leap, hlaupa, to run (akin to LEAP) > Dan løbe(knude), lit., running (knot)]

loop² (lu:p) •n. [Archaic] a narrow opening or loophole [ME loupe, prob. < MDu lupen, to peer]

looped (lu:pt) •adj. [Slang] intoxicated; drunk

looper (lu:p´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that makes loops 2 Zool. MEASURING WORM

loophole (lu:p´houl') •n. 1 a hole or narrow slit in the wall of a fort, etc., for looking or shooting through 2 a means of escape; esp., a means of evading or escaping an obligation, enforcement of a law or contract, etc. [LOOP² + HOLE]

loopy (lu:´pi:) -i·er, -i·est •adj. [Slang] 1 slightly crazy 2 confused; befuddled

loose (lu:s) loos´er, loos´est •adj. 1 not confined or restrained; free; unbound 2 not put up in a special package, box, binding, etc. {loose salt} 3 readily available; not put away under lock and key {loose cash} 4 not firmly fastened down, on, or in {a loose tooth, a loose wheel} 5 not taut; slack 6 not tight; giving enough room {loose clothing} 7 not compact or compactly constructed {loose soil, a loose frame} 8 not restrained; irresponsible {loose talk} 9 not precise or close; inexact {a loose translation} 10 sexually immoral; lewd 11 a) not strained or hard {a loose cough} b) moving freely or excessively {loose bowels} 12 [Colloq.] relaxed; easy; unconstrained •adv. loosely; in a loose manner •vt. loosed, loos´ing 1 to make loose; specif., a) to set free; unbind b) to make less tight c) to make less compact d) to free from restraint; make less rigid; relax e) to free from an obligation or responsibility; absolve 2 to let fly; release {to loose an arrow into the air} •vi. to discharge a bullet, arrow, etc.; fire break loose 1 to free oneself by force 2 to shake off restraint cast loose to untie or unfasten; become or set free let loose (with) to set free or give out; release on the loose 1 not confined or bound; free 2 [Colloq.] having fun in a free, unrestrained manner set (or turn) loose to make free; release loose´ly •adv. loose´ness •n. [ME lous < ON lauss, akin to Ger los, OE leas: see -LESS]

loose ends final, relatively minor matters still to be taken care of at loose ends [orig., naut., with reference to rope] 1 in an unsettled, disorganized, or confused condition 2 without anything definite to do 3 unemployed [from the ends of a spliced rope]

loose sentence a sentence in which the essential elements, in the main clause, come first, followed by subordinate parts, modifiers, etc., as in a compound sentence: cf. PERIODIC SENTENCE

loose smut any of various diseases of cereal grasses caused by smut fungi (esp. genus Ustilago) that cover the plant with dustlike masses of spores

loosefitting (-fit´iŋ) •adj. fitting loosely: used esp. of clothing

loose-jointed (lu:s´join´tid) •adj. 1 having loose joints 2 moving freely and flexibly; limber loose´-joint´ed·ly •adv. loose´-joint´ed·ness •n.

loose-leaf (lu:s´li:f') •adj. having or designed to have leaves that can easily be removed or replaced {a loose-leaf notebook}

loose-limbed (-limd´) •adj. having flexible and limber arms and legs {a loose-limbed dancer}

loosen (lu:s´эn) •vt., vi. to make or become loose or looser; specif., a) to free from confinement or restraint; unbind, unfasten, etc. b) to make less taut, less compact, etc. Æ loosen up [Colloq.] 1 to talk freely 2 to give money generously 3 to relax loos´en·er •n.

loosestrife (lu:s´straif') •n. 1 any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family, with leafy stems and loose spikes of white, rose, or yellow flowers 2 any of a genus (Lythrum) of plants of the loosestrife family, esp. purple loosestrife (L. salicaria) with spikes of purple flowers •adj. designating a family (Lythraceae, order Myrtales) of chiefly tropical dicotyledonous plants, including henna [LOOSE, v. + STRIFE: used as transl. of L lysimachia < Gr lysimacheios, understood as ending strife < lyein, to loosen, solve (see LYSIS) + machē, battle: from its assumed soothing properties, but prob. after Lysimachia, city in Thrace or Lysimachos, king of Thrace, its founder]

loose-tongued (lu:s´tûŋd') •adj. talking too much; careless or irresponsible in speech

loot (lu:t) •n. 1 goods stolen or taken by force, as from a captured enemy city in wartime or by a corrupt official or by rioters; plunder; spoils 2 the act of looting 3 [Slang] a) money b) items of value; esp., received gifts •vt. 1 to plunder; strip of everything valuable; despoil 2 to take or carry off as plunder; steal •vi. to engage in plundering SYN. SPOIL loot´er •n. [Hindi lūt < Sans lunt, to rob]

lop¹ (läp) lopped, lop´ping •vt. 1 to trim (a tree, etc.) by cutting off branches, twigs, or stems 2 to remove by or as by cutting off: usually with off •n. something lopped off lop´per •n. [ME loppen < OE loppian, prob. < Scand (as in Norw loppa) < IE *leub-, to peel off, break off, var. of base *leubh- > LEAF]

lop² (läp) lopped, lop´ping •vi. 1 to hang down loosely 2 to move in a halting way •adj. hanging down loosely [prob. akin to LOB]

lope (loup) loped, lop´ing •vi. to move along easily, with a long, swinging stride or in an easy canter •vt. to cause to lope •n. a long, easy, swinging stride lop´er •n. [ME lopen < ON hlaupa, to leap, run (or MDu lopen): see LEAP]

Lope de Vega see VEGA, Lope de

lop-eared (läp´ird') •adj. having ears that droop or hang down

lophobranch (lou´fou bræŋk', läf´ou-) •adj. of an order (Gasterosteiformes) of bony fishes having gills arranged in tufts •n. a fish of this order, including pipefishes and sea horses [< ModL Lophobranchii < Gr lophos, crest, tuft + branchion, gill]

lophophore (-för') •n. a usually horseshoe-shaped ring of ciliate tentacles around the mouth of certain aquatic animals, as in brachiopods [< Gr lophos, crest, tuft + -PHORE]

loppy (läp´э) -pi·er, -pi·est •adj. hanging down loosely; drooping

lopsided (-said'id) •adj. 1 noticeably heavier, bigger, or lower on one side; not symmetrical 2 not balanced; uneven lop´sid'ed·ly •adv. lop´sid'ed·ness •n.

loq. he (or she) speaks [L loquitur]

loquacious (lou kwei´shэs) •adj. very talkative; fond of talking SYN. TALKATIVE lo·qua´cious·ly •adv. lo·qua´cious·ness •n. [< L loquax (gen. loquacis) < loqui, to speak + -OUS]

loquacity (lou kwæs´э ti:) •n. talkativeness, esp. when excessive [L loquacitas < loquax: see LOQUACIOUS]

loquat (lou´kwät', -kwæt') •n. 1 a small evergreen tree (Eriobotrya japonica) of the rose family, native to China and Japan 2 the small, yellow, edible, plumlike fruit of this tree [< Chin (Canton dial.) lō kwat, lit., rush orange]

Lorain (lö rein´) city in N Ohio, on Lake Erie: pop. 71,000: see CLEVELAND [ult. after LORRAINE (France)]

loral (lö´rэl) •adj. of or having to do with a lore of a bird, fish, or snake

Loran (lör´æn') •n. [also l-] a system by which the position of a ship or aircraft can be determined by its navigator by the time interval between radio signals received from two or more known stations [< Lo(ng) Ra(nge) N(avigation)]

Lorca , Federico García see GARCÍA LORCA, Federico

lord (lörd) •n. 1 a person having great power and authority; ruler; master 2 the owner and head of a feudal estate 3 one's husband: now humorous 4 in Great Britain a) a nobleman holding the rank of baron, viscount, earl, or marquess; member of the House of Lords b) a man who by courtesy or because of his office is given the title of Lord, as a bishop, a younger son of a duke or marquess, or a Lord Mayor 5 [L-] in Great Britain, the title of a lord, variously used: as Earl of Leicester, John Doe would be called Lord Leicester; as a baron, John, Lord Doe; as a younger son of a marquess or duke, Lord John Doe 6 [L-] this title as a form of address for a judge, bishop, or nobleman: preceded by My •interj. [often L-] an exclamation of surprise or irritation •vi. to act like a lord; rule: chiefly in the phrase lord it (over), to act in an overbearing, dictatorial manner (toward) •vt. [Now Rare] to make a lord of [L-] 1 God: with the except in direct address 2 Jesus Christ: often with Our the Lords the House of Lords in the British Parliament [ME < OE hlaford < earlier hlafweard < hlaf (see LOAF¹) + weard (see WARD): basic sense loaf keeper (i.e., one who feeds dependents): some senses infl. by use as transl. of L dominus]

Lord (High) Chancellor the privy councilor in Great Britain who presides over the House of Lords and is head of the judiciary

Lord Mayor the title of the mayor of London and of the mayor of any of several other British cities

Lord of hosts Jehovah; God

Lord of Misrule [Historical] in England, a person who presided over revels and games, as at Christmas

lording (-iŋ) •n. 1 LORDLING 2 a lord: chiefly in pl. as a term of address [ME < OE hlafording]

lordling (-liŋ) •n. an unimportant or minor lord: usually contemptuous [ME: see LORD & -LING¹]

lordly (-li:) -li·er, -li·est •adj. of, like, characteristic of, or suitable to a lord; specif., a) noble; grand b) haughty; overbearing •adv. in the manner of a lord lord´li·ness •n. [ME < OE hlafordlic]

lordosis (lör dou´sis) •n. forward curvature of the spine, producing a hollow in the back lor·dot´ic (-dät´ik) •adj. [ModL < Gr lordōsis < lordos, bent backward < IE base *lerd-, to make crooked > Gael lorcach, with a lame foot]

Lord's Day [sometimes L- d-] Sunday: with the [transl. of LL(Ec) dies Dominica < Gr(Ec) hē kyriakē hēmera (see Rev. 1:10): from being the day of the resurrection of Christ]

Lord's Prayer the prayer beginning Our Father, which Jesus taught his disciples: Matt. 6:9-13

lords spiritual the archbishops and bishops who are members of the British House of Lords

Lord's Supper 1 LAST SUPPER 2 EUCHARIST

lords temporal those members of the British House of Lords who are not members of the clergy

lordship (lörd´ship') •n. 1 the rank or authority of a lord 2 rule; dominion 3 the territory of a lord 4 [often L-] a title used in speaking to or of a lord: preceded by your or his [OE hlafordscipe: see -SHIP]

lore¹ (lör) •n. 1 [Archaic] a) a teaching or being taught; instruction b) something taught 2 knowledge or learning; specif., all the knowledge of a particular group or having to do with a particular subject, esp. that of a traditional nature [ME < OE lar, learning, teaching, akin to Ger lehre, teaching: see LEARN]

lore² (lör) •n. the space between the eye and the upper edge of the bill of a bird or between the eye and the nostril of a snake or fish [ModL lorum < L, thong < IE *wloro- < base *wel- > Gr eulēra, reins]

Lorelei (lör´э lai') Gmc. Folklore a siren whose singing on a rock in the Rhine lures sailors to shipwreck on the reefs: orig. a character in literature [Ger, altered by C. Brentano (1778-1842), Ger poet, after Lurlei, name of the rock (prob. lit., ambush cliff) < MHG luren, to watch, LOWER + lei, a cliff, rock]

Lorentz (lô´řents), Hen·drik An·toon (hen´dřik än´toun) 1853-1928; Du. physicist

Lorenz (lô´řents), Kon·rad (Zacharias) (kôn´řät) 1903-89; Austrian ethologist

Lorenzo (lö ren´zou, lэ-) a masculine name: see LAURENCE

Loretta (lö ret´э, lэ-) a feminine name: see LAURA [dim. of LAURA]

lorgnette (lörn yet´) •n. 1 a pair of eyeglasses attached to a handle 2 opera glasses similarly mounted [Fr < lorgner, to spy, peep, quiz < OFr lorgne, squinting]

lorgnon (löř nyouñ´) •n. 1 a single or double eyeglass, as a monocle or pince-nez 2 LORGNETTE [Fr < lorgner: see LORGNETTE]

Lori (lör´i:) a feminine name: see LAURA

lorica (lou rai´kэ, lэ-) pl. -cae (-si:) •n. 1 the cuirass worn by a soldier of ancient Rome 2 a hard, protective shell or other covering around certain invertebrates lor·i·cate (lör´i keit') or lor´i·cat'ed •adj. [L, orig., corselet of thongs < lorum, a thong: see LORE²]

Lorient (lô řyäñ´) seaport in NW France, on the Bay of Biscay: pop. 65,000

lorikeet (lör´i ki:t') •n. any of several small, brightly colored parakeets native to Australia and the East Indies with a lorylike tongue for feeding on nectar [< LORY + (PARA)KEET]

Lorinda (lö rin´dэ, lэ-) a feminine name: see LAURA

loris (lou´ris, lör´is) •n. any of various small, slow-moving, large-eyed Asiatic prosimian primates (family Lorisidae) that live in trees and are active at night [ModL < Fr, special use (by BUFFON) of Du loeres, < loer, a clown]

lorn (lörn) •adj. 1 [Obs.] lost, ruined, or undone 2 [Old Poet.] forsaken, forlorn, bereft, or desolate [ME < OE loren, pp. of leosan (see LOSE): the change of s to r is due to VERNER'S LAW]

Lorna (lör´nэ) a feminine name [apparently coined by R. D. Blackmore (1825-1900), Eng novelist < title of the Marquis of Lorne (1845-1914)]

Lorrain , Claude see CLAUDE LORRAIN

Lorraine (lö rein´; Fr lô řen´) 1 a feminine name 2 historical region of NE France: see ALSACE-LORRAINE 3 metropolitan region of modern France in the same general area; 9,089 sq. mi. (23,540 sq. km); pop. 2,318,000; chief city, Nancy Cross of Lorraine a Latin cross with a second, longer horizontal bar intersecting the lower end of the vertical bar [Fr]

lorry (lör´i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 a low, flat wagon without sides 2 any of various trucks fitted to run on rails 3 [Brit.] a motor truck [prob. < dial. lurry, lorry, to tug, pull]

lory (lou´ri:, lör´i:) pl. -ries •n. any of several small, brightly colored, short-tailed parrots, native to Australia and the East Indies with a fringed, brushlike tip of the tongue for feeding on soft fruits and nectar [Malay lūrī]

Los Alamos (lös æl´э mous', läs) town in NC N.Mex., near Santa Fe: site of atomic energy facility where the atomic bomb was developed: pop. 11,000 [Sp, lit., the poplars]

Los Angeles (lös æn´jэ lэs, -li:z; läs æn´-; also, -æŋ´gэ-) city & seaport on the SW coast of Calif.: pop. 3,485,000 (met. area with Long Beach 8,863,000; urban area, with Anaheim & Riverside, 14,532,000) Los An·ge·le·no (æn'jэ li:´nou) [Sp, short for Reina de los Angeles, lit., Queen of the Angels]

lose (lu:z) lost, los´ing •vt. 1 a) to bring to ruin or destruction {a ship lost in the storm} b) Theol. to incur the damnation of {to lose one's soul} 2 to become unable to find; mislay {to lose one's keys} 3 a) to have taken from one by negligence, accident, death, removal, separation, etc.; suffer the loss of; be deprived of b) to suffer the miscarriage or stillbirth of (a baby) 4 to get rid of (something undesirable) {to lose unwanted weight} 5 to fail to keep or maintain {to lose one's temper, to lose speed} 6 a) to fail to see, hear, or understand {she did not lose a word of his speech} b) to fail to keep in sight, mind, or existence 7 to fail to have, get, take advantage of, etc.; miss {to lose one's chance} 8 to fail to win or gain {to lose a game} 9 to cause the loss of {it lost him his job} 10 to cause to go astray, become bewildered, etc. 11 to wander from and not be able to find (one's way, the right track, etc.) 12 to fail or be unable to make proper use of; waste {to lose time} 13 to leave behind; outdistance 14 to engross or preoccupy: usually in the passive {to be lost in reverie} 15 to go slower by {a watch that loses two minutes a day} •vi. 1 to undergo or suffer loss 2 to be defeated in a contest, etc. 3 to be slow: said of a clock, etc. lose oneself 1 to lose one's way; go astray; become bewildered 2 to become absorbed 3 to disappear from view or notice Æ lose out [Colloq.] to fail; be unsuccessful Æ lose out on [Colloq.] to fail to win, gain, or take advantage of los´a·ble •adj. [ME losen, lesen, merging OE losian, to lose, be lost (< los, LOSS) + leosan, to lose, akin to OHG (vir)liosan, Goth (fra)liusan < IE base *leu-, to cut off, separate > Gr lyein, to dissolve; L luere, to loose, release (from debt)]

losel (lou´zэl, lu:´-) •n. [Now Chiefly Dial.] a worthless person •adj. [Now Chiefly Dial.] worthless [ME losel, lorel < losen, pp. of lesen, prec.]

loser (lu:´zэr) •n. 1 a) one that loses b) [Colloq.] one that seems doomed to lose; esp., an ineffectual person who habitually fails or is easily victimized 2 a person who reacts to loss or defeat in a specified way {a poor loser} 3 [Slang] a person who has been imprisoned for crime a (specified) number of times {a three-time loser}

losing (-ziŋ) •n. 1 the act of one that loses 2 [pl.] losses by gambling •adj. 1 that loses {a losing team} 2 resulting in loss {a losing proposition}

loss (lös, läs) •n. 1 a losing or being lost 2 an instance of this 3 the damage, trouble, disadvantage, deprivation, etc. caused by losing something 4 the person, thing, or amount lost 5 Elec. any reduction of voltage, current, or power between parts of a circuit or between different circuits, due to resistance of the elements 6 Insurance a) death, injury, damage, etc. that is the basis for a valid claim for indemnity under the terms of the policy b) the amount paid by the insurer on this basis 7 Mil. a) the losing of military personnel in combat by death, injury, or capture b) [pl.] those lost in this way c) [pl.] ships, aircraft, etc. lost in battle at a loss 1 in an uncertain or perplexed state; puzzled 2 so as to lose money {to operate a business at a loss} at a loss to not able to; uncertain how to [ME los < pp. of losen, lesen, to LOSE]

loss leader any article that a store sells cheaply or below cost in order to attract customers

loss ratio the ratio between the losses incurred and the premiums earned by an insurance company during a specified time

lost (löst, läst) •adj. 1 a) destroyed or ruined physically or morally b) Theol. damned; reprobate 2 not to be found; missing 3 no longer held or possessed; parted with 4 no longer seen, heard, or known {a person lost in a crowd} 5 not gained or won; attended with defeat 6 having wandered from the way; uncertain as to one's location 7 bewildered or ill at ease 8 not spent profitably or usefully; wasted 9 spent away from one's place of work, as because of illness {to make up lost time} Æ get lost! [Slang] go away! lost in absorbed in; engrossed in lost on without effect on; failing to influence lost to 1 no longer in the possession or enjoyment of 2 no longer available to 3 having no sense of (shame, right, etc.); insensible to

lost cause an undertaking or movement that has failed or is certain to fail

lost motion the difference in the rate of motion of driving and driven parts of a machine, due to faulty fittings, etc.

lost tribes the ten tribes of Israel carried off into Assyrian captivity about 722 B.C.: 2 Kings 17:6

Lot (lôt) river in S France, flowing west into the Garonne: c. 300 mi. (483 km) lot (lät) •n. 1 an object used in deciding a matter by chance, a number of these being placed in a container and then drawn or cast out at random one by one 2 the use of such an object or objects in determining a matter {to choose men by lot} 3 the decision or choice arrived at by this means, regarded as the verdict of chance 4 what a person receives as the result of such a decision; share 5 one's portion in life; fortune {her unhappy lot} 6 a plot of ground; specif., Æ a) a subdivision of a block in a town or city Æ b) a parcel of land in a cemetery 7 a) a number of persons or things regarded as a group b) a quantity of material processed or manufactured at the same time 8 [often pl.] [Colloq.] a great number or amount {a lot of cars, lots of money} 9 [Colloq.] sort (of person or persons) {he's a bad lot} Æ 10 Film a studio with the surrounding area belonging to it; specif., the area used for outdoor filming •adv. a great deal; very much {a lot happier} Also lots •vt. lot´ted, lot´ting 1 to divide into lots 2 [Rare] to allot •vi. to draw or cast lots SYN. FATE cast (or throw) in one's lot with to take one's chances in association with; share the fortune of draw (or cast) lots to decide an issue by using lots the lot [Colloq.] the whole of a quantity or number [ME < OE hlot, akin to Ger los, Du lot, ON hlutr, Goth hlauts < IE base *klēu-, a hook, forked branch > CLOSE², L clavis, key] Lot (lät) Bible Abraham's nephew, who, warned by two angels, fled from the doomed city of Sodom: his wife looked back to see the destruction and was turned into a pillar of salt: Gen. 19:1-26 [Heb Lōt]

lota or lotah (lou´tэ) •n. in India, a globe-shaped water pot, usually of brass [Hindi lotā]

loth (louθ, louð) •adj. alt. sp. of LOATH

Lothario (lou θer´i: ou') pl. -i·os' •n. [often l-] a seducer of women; rake [name of young rake in Nicholas Rowe's play The Fair Penitent (1703)]

Lothian (lou´ði: эn, -θi:-) region of SE Scotland, including the former counties of East Lothian, Midlothian, & West Lothian: 677 sq. mi. (1,756 sq. km); pop. 745,000

loti (lou´ti:) pl. ma·lo·ti (mэ lou´ti:) •n. the basic monetary unit of Lesotho: see MONEY, table Loti (lô ti:´), Pierre (pyeř) (pseud. of Louis Marie Julien Viaud) 1850-1923; Fr. novelist

lotic (lout´ik) •adj. Ecol. designating, of, or living in flowing water, as rivers: cf. LENTIC [< L lotus, a washing (< lautus, pp. of lavere, to wash: see LAVE¹) + -IC]

lotion (lou´shэn) •n. a liquid preparation used, as on the skin, for cleansing, soothing, healing, etc. [ME loscion < L lotio (gen. lotionis) < lotus: see LOTIC]

Lotta (lät´э) a feminine name: see CHARLOTTE

lotte (lôt) •n. Fr. name for MONKFISH

lottery (lät´эr i:) pl. -ter·ies •n. 1 a game of chance in which people buy numbered tickets, and prizes are given to those whose numbers are drawn by lot: sometimes sponsored by a state or organization as a means of raising funds 2 any undertaking that involves chance selections, as by the drawing of lots {military draft lottery} [MFr loterie < MDu loterije < lot, LOT]

Lottie or Lotty (lät´i:) a feminine name: see CHARLOTTE

lotto (lät´ou) •n. a game resembling bingo [It < Fr lot < MDu: see LOT]

lotus (lout´эs) •n. 1 Gr. Legend a) a fruit that was supposed to induce a dreamy languor and forgetfulness b) the plant bearing this fruit, variously supposed to be the date, the jujube, etc. 2 any of various waterlilies, esp. the white lotus (Nymphaea lotus), once sacred in Egypt, or the pink or white Asian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), used as a religious symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism 3 a representation of any of these plants in ancient, esp. Egyptian, sculpture and architecture 4 any of a genus (Lotus) of plants of the pea family, with irregular, pinnate leaves and yellow, purple, or white flowers Also sp. lotos [L < Gr lōtos < Heb lōt]

lotus land 1 the land of the lotus-eaters, or any fabulous, dreamlike setting 2 [Slang] Hollywood and its film industry, thought of as glittery and alluring, not like the real world: also Lo´tus·land'

lotus position in yoga, an erect sitting posture with the legs crossed and with each foot, sole upturned, resting on the upper thigh of the opposite leg

lotus-eater (-i:t'эr) •n. in the Odyssey, one of a people who ate the fruit of the lotus and consequently became indolent, dreamy, and forgetful of duty

Lou Gehrig's disease (lu: ger´igz) AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS [after (Henry) Lou(is) Gehrig (1903-41), U.S. baseball player who died of the disease]

louche (lu:sh) •adj. questionable; shady; odd [Fr, lit., squinting < L lusca, fem. of luscus, one-eyed]

loud (laud) •adj. 1 striking with force on the organs of hearing; strongly audible: said of sound 2 making a sound or sounds of great intensity {a loud bell} 3 noisy 4 clamorous; emphatic; insistent {loud denials} 5 [Colloq.] too vivid; flashy 6 [Colloq.] unrefined; vulgar 7 [Dial.] strong or offensive, as in smell •adv. in a loud manner out loud with the normal voice; aloud loud´ish •adj. loud´ly •adv. loud´ness •n. [ME < OE hlud, akin to Ger laut < IE base *leu-, to hear, listen > L cluere, to be spoken of, esteemed]

louden (laud´ªn) •vt., vi. to make or become loud or louder

loudhailer (laud´ heil'эr) •n. BULLHORN

loudmouthed (-mauðd', -mauθt') •adj. in the habit of talking in a loud, irritating, or indiscreet manner loud´mouth' •n.

loudspeaker (-spi:k'эr) •n. a device for converting electrical signals to sound waves which are radiated into the air

lough (läkh) •n. 1 a lake 2 an arm of the sea [ME, prob. < Gael & OEr loch, LOCH]

louis (lu:´i:) pl. lou´is (-i:z) •n. LOUIS D'OR Louis (lu:´is), Joe (born Joseph Louis Barrow) 1914-81; U.S. boxer: world heavyweight champion (1937-49) Louis (lu:´i:; for 1, usually lu:´is; Fr lwi:) 1 a masculine name: dim. Lou, Louie; var. Lewis; equiv. L. Ludovicus, Ger. Ludwig, It. Luigi, Sp. Luis, Welsh Llewellyn, Llewelyn; fem. Louise 2 Louis I A.D.778-840; king of France & emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (814-840): son & successor of Charlemagne 3 Louis II de Bourbon see CONDÉ, Prince de 4 Louis IX 1214-70; king of France (1226-70): canonized as Saint Louis, his day is Aug. 25 5 Louis XI 1423-83; king of France (1461-83): son of Charles VII 6 Louis XII 1462-1515; king of France (1498-1515) 7 Louis XIII 1601-43; king of France (1610-43): son of Henry IV 8 Louis XIV 1638-1715; king of France (1643-1715): his reign encompassed a period of flourishing Fr. culture: son of Louis XIII 9 Louis XV 1710-74; king of France (1715-74): great-grandson of Louis XIV 10 Louis XVI 1754-93; king of France (1774-92): reign marked by the French Revolution: guillotined: grandson of Louis XV 11 Louis XVII 1785-95; titular king of France (1793-95): son of Louis XVI 12 Louis XVIII 1755-1824; king of France (1814-15; 1815-24): brother of Louis XVI [Fr < OFr Loeis; prob. via ML Ludovicus < OHG Hludowig < Gmc base *hluda-, famous (< base of LOUD) + *wiga-, war, hence, lit., famous in war; in the form Lewis, sometimes an adaptation of Welsh Llewelyn]

louis d'or (lu:'i: dör´) 1 an old French gold coin of varying value, issued through the reigns of Louis XIII-Louis XVI 2 a later French gold coin worth 20 francs [Fr, lit., gold louis: orig. after LOUIS XIII]

Louis Napoleon (born Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte) 1808-73; president of France (1848-52) & as Napoleon III, emperor (1852-71): deposed: nephew of Napoleon I

Louis Philippe (fi li:p´) 1773-1850; king of France (1830-48): abdicated in Revolution of 1848

Louis Quatorze (kæ törz´) designating or of the style of furniture, architecture, etc. of the time of Louis XIV of France, characterized by massive, baroque forms and lavish ornamentation

Louis Quinze (kæñz) designating or of the style of furniture, architecture, etc. of the time of Louis XV of France, characterized by rococo treatment with emphasis on curved lines and highly decorative forms based on shells, flowers, etc.

Louis Seize (sez) designating or of the style of furniture, architecture, etc. of the time of Louis XVI of France, which is characterized by a return to straight lines, symmetry, and classic ornamental details

Louis Treize (trez) designating or of the style of furniture, architecture, etc. of the time of Louis XIII of France, characterized by Renaissance forms, rich inlays, etc.

Louisa (lu: i:´zэ) a feminine name: see LOUISE [It]

Louise (lu: i:z´) 1 a feminine name: dim. Lou, Lulu; var. Eloise; equiv. It. Louisa [Fr, fem. of LOUIS] Louise , Lake small lake in SW Alberta, Canada, in Banff National Park [after Princess Louise Alberta, daughter of Queen Victoria & wife of the Marquess of Lorne, Cdn gov. gen. (1878-83)]

Louisiana (lu i:'zi: æn´э, lu'э zi:-) Southern State of the U.S., on the Gulf of Mexico: admitted, 1812; 48,523 sq. mi. (126,160 sq. km); pop. 4,220,000; cap. Baton Rouge: abbrev. LA or La Lou·i'si·an´i·an or Lou·i'si·an´an •adj., n. [Fr La Louisianne, name for the Mississippi Valley, after LOUIS XIV]

Louisiana Purchase land bought by the U.S. from France in 1803 for $15,000,000: it extended from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains & from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada

Louisville (lu:´i: vil; locally lu:´э vэl) city in N Ky., on the Ohio River: pop. 269,000 (met. area 953,000) [after LOUIS XVI]

lounge (launj) lounged, loung´ing •vi. 1 to stand, move, sit, lie, etc. in a relaxed or lazy way; loll 2 to spend time in idleness {they lounge around on street corners, wasting their lives} •vt. to spend by lounging {to lounge the summer away} •n. 1 an act or time of lounging 2 [Archaic] a lounging gait or stroll 3 a) a room, as in a hotel or theater, equipped with comfortable furniture for lounging b) COCKTAIL LOUNGE 4 a couch or sofa, esp. a backless one with a headrest at one end loung´er •n. [15th-c. Scot dial. < ? lungis, laggard, lout < OFr longis < L Longinus, apocryphal name of soldier who lanced Jesus in the side: sense infl. in OFr by assoc. with longe, long, slow < L longus, LONG¹]

lounge car a railroad car where passengers may lounge in comfortable chairs and obtain refreshments

lounge lizard [Slang] an indolent, pleasure-seeking man who frequents lounges, nightclubs, etc. where rich people or socialites gather

loup (laup, loup, lu:p) •vi., vt. [Scot.] to leap •n. [Scot.] a leap [ME, akin to leap, hleap: see LEAP] loup (lu:) •n. a European sea bass Also called loup de mer (lu:d meř´) [Fr]

loupe (lu:p) •n. a small, high-powered magnifying lens held or worn close to the eye, used by jewelers [Fr < MFr, gem of imperfect transparency, shapeless iron lump, prob. < or akin to OHG luppa, lumpy mass: see LOB]

loup-garou (lu: gå řu:´) pl. loups-ga·rous (lu: gå řu:´) •n. WEREWOLF [Fr < loup, wolf (< L lupus) + garou, werewolf < OFr garolf < Frank *werwulf, akin to OE werwulf, WEREWOLF]

lour (laur) •vi., n. LOWER²

Lourenço Marques (lou ren´sou mär´kes; Port lô řeñ´su mäř´kezh) old name of MAPUTO

louse (laus; also, for v., lauz) pl. lice •n. 1 a) any of an order (Anoplura) of small, flat, wingless insects with sucking mouthparts, parasitic on the skin or hair of humans and some other mammals; esp., the human body louse (Pediculus humanus corporis) and head louse (P. h. capitis) b) any of various arthropods that suck blood or juice from other animals or plants 2 BIRD LOUSE 3 any of various other small insects, arachnids, and crustaceans that are not parasitic, as the book louse or wood louse 4 pl. lous´es [Slang] a person regarded as mean, contemptible, etc. •vt. loused, lous´ing [Rare] to delouse Æ louse up [Slang] to botch; spoil; ruin [ME lous < OE lus (pl. lys), akin to Ger laus < IE *lūs > Welsh lleuen, Bret laouen]

lousewort (-wørt') •n. any of a genus (Pedicularis) of perennial plants of the figwort family, with pinnately divided leaves and spiked clusters of yellow, rose, or purple flowers [so called because sheep feeding on the plants were said to become infested with vermin]

lousy (lau´zi:) lous´i·er, lous´i·est •adj. 1 infested with lice 2 covered with specks: said of silk 3 [Slang] dirty, disgusting, or contemptible Æ 4 [Slang] poor; inferior: a generalized epithet of disapproval Æ 5 [Slang] well supplied or oversupplied (with) lous´i·ly •adv. lous´i·ness •n.

lout¹ (laut) •n. a clumsy, stupid fellow; boor •vt. [Obs.] to treat with contempt; flout lout´ish •adj. lout´ish·ly •adv. lout´ish·ness •n. [prob. < or akin to ME lutien, to lurk < OE lutian, akin to lutan: see LOUT2]

lout² (laut) •vi., vt. [Now Chiefly Dial.] to bow or curtsy; stoop [ME louten < OE lutan: for IE base see LITTLE]

Louth (lauθ) county in Leinster province, E Ireland: 317 sq. mi. (821 sq. km); pop. 88,000

Louvain (lu: væñ´; E lu: vein´) Fr. name of LEUVEN

louver (lu:´vэr) •n. 1 an open turret or lantern on the roof of a medieval building 2 a) a window or opening furnished with a series of overlapping, horizontal slats arranged so as to admit light and air but shed rain water outward b) any of these slats (also louver board) c) any similar arrangement of slats or fins, often adjustable, used to control ventilation, light intensity, etc. 3 a ventilating slit Also lou´vre lou´vered •adj. [ME luver < MFr lover < MDu love, gallery (in a theater), akin to OHG louba: see LODGE]

L'Ouverture see TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE

lovable (lûv´э bэl) •adj. inspiring love; easily loved; endearing Also sp. love´a·ble lov'a·bil´i·ty or lov´a·ble·ness •n. lov´a·bly •adv.

lovage (lûv´ij) •n. a European plant (Levisticum officinale) of the umbel family, sometimes used as a potherb and formerly as a home medicine [ME loveache, altered (by assoc. with love, LOVE & ache, ACHE) < OFr levesche < LL levisticum for L ligusticum, lovage, plant native to Liguria < Ligusticus, Ligurian, after Liguria, country in Cisalpine Gaul]

lovat (lûv´эt) •n. a variegated color, chiefly green, with shades of blue, gray, etc., characteristic of some tweeds [prob. after Lovat, locality in the shire of INVERNESS]

love (lûv) •n. 1 a deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment or devotion to a person or persons 2 an expression of one's love or affection {give Mary my love} 3 a feeling of brotherhood and good will toward other people 4 a) strong liking for or interest in something {a love of music} b) the object of such liking 5 a) a strong, usually passionate, affection of one person for another, based in part on sexual attraction b) the person who is the object of such an affection; sweetheart; lover 6 a) sexual passion b) sexual intercourse 7 Tennis a score of zero [< phr. play for love, i.e., play for nothing] 8 Theol. a) God's tender regard and concern for mankind b) mankind's devotion to and desire for God as the supreme good •vt. loved, lov´ing 1 to feel love for 2 to show love for by embracing, fondling, kissing, etc. 3 to delight in; take pleasure in {to love books} 4 to gain benefit from {a plant that loves shade} •vi. to feel the emotion of love; be in love [L-] 1 Cupid, or Eros, as the god of love 2 [Rare] Venus fall in love (with) to begin to feel love (for) for love as a favor or for pleasure; without payment for the love of for the sake of; with loving regard for in love feeling love; enamored make love 1 to woo or embrace, kiss, etc. as lovers do 2 to have sexual intercourse no love lost between no liking or affection existing between not for love or money not under any conditions SYN.—love implies intense fondness or deep devotion and may apply to various relationships or objects [sexual love, brotherly love, love of one's work, etc.]; affection suggests warm, tender feelings, usually not as powerful or deep as those implied by love [he has no affection for children]; attachment implies connection by ties of affection, attraction, devotion, etc. and may be felt for inanimate things as well as for people [an attachment to an old hat]; infatuation implies a foolish or unreasoning passion or affection, often a transient one [an elderly man's infatuation for a young girl] [ME < OE lufu, akin to OHG luba, Goth lubo < IE base *leubh-, to be fond of, desire > LIBIDO, LIEF, LUST]

love affair 1 an amorous or romantic relationship or episode between two people not married to each other 2 an intense or eager interest in something

love apple [Archaic] the tomato [transl. of Fr pomme d'amour, Ger liebesapfel, calques of It pomo d'amore, folk etym. for earlier It pomo dei Mori, lit., apple of the Moors]

love beads a long strand of colorful beads worn by both men and women as a symbol of the counterculture

love feast 1 a) among the early Christians, a meal eaten together as a symbol of affection and brotherhood; agape b) a modern feast or gathering imitating this Æ 2 any gathering characterized by friendliness and good feeling

love game a game, as in tennis, in which the losing player or team scores no points

love knot TRUELOVE KNOT

love life that part of one's life having to do with amorous or sexual relationships

love match a marriage for love only, not for wealth, social status, etc.

love potion a magic drink supposed to arouse love or passion for a certain person in the drinker; philter

love seat 1 a double chair or small sofa seating two persons 2 TÊTE-À-TÊTE (n. 2)

love set Tennis a set in which the loser wins no games

lovebird (-børd') •n. any of various small parrots, esp. of an African genus (Agapornis), often kept as cage birds: the mates appear to be greatly attached to each other

lovebug (lûv´bûg') •n. a small, mostly black, dipterous fly (Plecia nearctica) of the SE U.S.: they swarm in large numbers in May and September, causing a nuisance to motorists [so called from the fact that they swarm during the mating seasons]

love-hate (lûv´heit´) •adj. characterized simultaneously by feelings of love and hate {a love-hate relationship}

love-in-a-mist (lûv´ in'э mist´) •n. an annual European plant (Nigella damascena) of the buttercup family, with finely cut leaves and blue or white flowers

Lovelace (lûv´leis'), Richard 1618-57; Eng. poet

loveless (lûv´lis) •adj. without love; specif., a) feeling no love b) receiving no love; unloved love´less·ly •adv.

love-lies-bleeding (-laiz'bli:d´iŋ) •n. an amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus) with drooping spikes of small, red flowers

Lovell (lûv´эl), Sir (Alfred Charles) Bernard 1913- ; Eng. astronomer

lovelock (lûv´läk') •n. a lock of hair lying apart from the rest of the hair; specif., such a long lock as formerly worn by courtiers

lovelorn (-lörn') •adj. deserted by or pining for one's sweetheart; pining from love [see LORN]

lovely (lûv´li:) -li·er, -li·est •adj. having those qualities that inspire love, affection, or admiration; specif., a) beautiful; exquisite b) morally or spiritually attractive; gracious c) [Colloq.] highly enjoyable {a lovely party} •n. pl. -lies [Colloq.] a lovely person or thing; esp., a beautiful young woman SYN. BEAUTIFUL love´li·ly •adv. love´li·ness •n. [ME luvelich < OE luflic]

lovemaking (lûv´meik'iŋ) •n. the act of making love; specif., a) wooing or embracing, kissing, etc. b) sexual intercourse

lover (lûv´эr) •n. a person who loves; specif., a) a sweetheart b) [pl.] a couple in love with each other c) in a sexual relationship, one of the partners who are not married to each other, esp. a man in such a relationship with a woman d) a paramour e) a person who greatly enjoys some (specified) thing {a lover of good music} f) a person with regard to his or her degree of sexual skill, responsiveness, etc. lov´er·ly •adj., adv.

lovesick (lûv´sik') •adj. 1 so much in love as to be unable to act in a normal way 2 expressive of such a condition {a lovesick song} love´sick'ness •n.

lovesome (-sэm) •adj. [Now Chiefly Dial.] lovely

lovey-dovey (lûv´i: dûv´i:) •adj. [Slang] very affectionate, amorous, or sentimental [LOVE + -Y² + DOVE + -Y²]

loving (lûv´iŋ) •adj. 1 feeling love; devoted 2 expressing love {a loving act} lov´ing·ly •adv. lov´ing·ness •n.

loving cup a large drinking cup of silver, etc., with two or more large handles by which it was formerly passed from guest to guest at banquets: now often given as a trophy in sports and games

lovingkindness (-kaind´nis) •n. kindness or affectionate behavior resulting from or expressing love [earlier loving kindness: first use by COVERDALE, 1535]

Low (lou) 1 Sir David 1891-1963; Brit. political cartoonist, born in New Zealand 2 Juliette (born Juliette Gordon) 1860-1927; U.S. founder of the Girl Scouts

low beam the dimmer, shorter-range setting of a vehicle's headlights

low blow 1 a blow below the belt, illegal in boxing Æ 2 an unsportsmanlike or unfair action, attack, etc.

Low Church a liberal, evangelical party of the Anglican Church that attaches relatively little importance to traditional rituals and doctrines Cf. HIGH CHURCH Low´-Church' •adj.

low comedy a comedy that gets its effect mainly from action and situation, as burlesque, farce, slapstick, and horseplay, rather than from witty dialogue and characterization: cf. HIGH COMEDY

Low Countries the Netherlands, Belgium, & Luxembourg

low frequency any radio frequency between 30 and 300 kilohertz

Low German 1 PLATTDEUTSCH 2 the West Germanic languages, other than High German, of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family of languages, represented by Old Low Franconian, Old Saxon, Old Frisian, and Old English and their later stages, including Dutch, Plattdeutsch, English, Frisian, etc.: distinguished from HIGH GERMAN [calque of Ger niederdeutsch (see NETHER & DEUTSCHLAND): so named because orig. spoken chiefly in the Ger lowlands]

Low Latin nonclassical Latin, esp. in the medieval period

Low Mass old term for a Mass of simple ceremony, the texts being recited, not sung, by the celebrant

low profile Æ an unobtrusive, barely noticeable presence, or concealed, inconspicuous activity

low relief BAS-RELIEF

Low Sunday the first Sunday after Easter

low tide 1 the lowest level reached by the ebbing tide 2 the time when the tide is at this level: see NEAP¹ 3 the lowest point reached by anything

low water 1 water at its lowest level, as in a stream 2 LOW TIDE

low¹ (lou) •adj. 1 a) of little height or elevation; not high or tall b) not far above the ground {low clouds} 2 depressed below the surrounding surface or normal elevation {low land} 3 of little depth; shallow {the river is low} 4 of little quantity, degree, intensity, value, etc. {a low cost, low pressure} 5 of less than normal height, elevation, depth, quantity, degree, power, etc. 6 below others in order, position, rating, etc. {low man on the team, low marks} 7 near the horizon {the sun was low} 8 near the equator {a low latitude} 9 cut so as to expose the neck or part of the shoulders, chest, or back; décolleté {a dress with a low neckline} 10 a) [Rare] prostrate or dead b) in hiding or obscurity {to stay low} 11 deep; profound {a low bow} 12 lacking energy; enfeebled; weak 13 depressed in spirits; melancholy 14 not of high rank; humble; plebeian {a man of low origin} 15 vulgar; coarse; debased; undignified 16 mean; despicable; contemptible {a low trick} 17 poor; slight; unfavorable {to have a low opinion of someone} 18 containing less than a normal amount of some usual element {low in calories, low-salt diet} 19 not advanced in evolution, development, complexity, etc.; inferior {a low form of plant life} 20 relatively recent {a manuscript of a low date} Æ 21 designating or of that gear ratio of a motor vehicle transmission which produces the lowest speed and the greatest torque 22 a) not well supplied with; short of (with on) {low on ammunition} b) [Colloq.] not having any or much money; short of ready cash 23 of little intensity; not loud: said of a sound 24 designating or producing tones made by relatively slow vibrations; deep in pitch 25 very informal and permissive in matters of ceremony, doctrine, etc. 26 Phonet. articulated with the tongue held relatively low in the mouth: said of certain vowels, as (ä) in far •adv. 1 in, to, or toward a low position, level, direction, etc. {hit them low} 2 in a low manner 3 quietly; softly {speak low} 4 with a deep pitch •n. something low; specif., Æ a) that gear of a motor vehicle, etc., producing the lowest speed and the greatest torque: also, an arrangement similar to this in an automatic transmission b) a low level, point, degree, etc. {the stock market low for the day} Æ c) Meteorol. an area of low barometric pressure SYN. BASE² lay low 1 to cause to fall by hitting 2 to overcome or kill lie low Æ 1 to keep oneself hidden or inconspicuous Æ 2 to wait patiently for an opportunity low´ness •n. [ME lah < ON lagr, akin to MDu lage, MLowG læge < IE base *legh-, LIE¹]

low² (lou) •vi. to make the characteristic vocal sound of a cow; moo •vt. to express by lowing •n. the characteristic sound of a cow [ME lowen < OE hlowan, akin to ON hloa, to roar < IE base *kel-, to cry > L clamor]

low³ (lou) •n., vi. [Scot. or North Eng.] flame or blaze [ME loghe < ON logi, akin to MHG lohe, flame: for IE base see LIGHT¹]

low-ball (lou´böl') •vt. 1 to give an understated price, estimate, etc. to (someone), esp. without intending to honor it 2 to so understate (a price, etc.) low´-ball'ing •n.

lowborn (lou´börn') •adj. of humble birth

lowboy (-boi') •n. Æ a chest of drawers mounted on short legs to about the height of a table [LOW¹ + BOY]

lowbred (-bred') •adj. 1 of inferior stock or breed 2 ill-mannered; vulgar; crude; coarse

lowbrow (-brau') •n. [Colloq.] a person lacking or considered to lack highly cultivated, intellectual tastes •adj. [Colloq.] of or for a lowbrow Often a term of contempt

low-cal (lou´kæl') •adj. having a low caloric value {low-cal salad dressing}

low-cost (-köst') •adj. available at a low cost

lowdown (lou´daun'; for adj., -daun´) •n. [Slang] the true, pertinent facts; esp., secret or inside information: with the •adj. [Colloq.] 1 mean; contemptible 2 depressed; blue {feeling lowdown} 3 Jazz earthy; funky {a lowdown blues}

Lowell (lou´эl) 1 Abbott Lawrence 1856-1943; U.S. educator 2 Amy 1874-1925; U.S. poet & critic: sister of Abbott 3 James Russell 1819-91; U.S. poet, essayist, & editor 4 Percival 1855-1916; U.S. astronomer: brother of Abbott & Amy 5 Robert (Traill Spence, Jr.) 1917-77; U.S. poet Lowell (lou´эl) city in NE Mass.: pop. 103,000 [after F. C. Lowell (1775-1817), industrialist]

lower bound Math. a number that is less than or equal to every number in a set

Lower California BAJA CALIFORNIA

Lower Canada old name (1791-1841) of QUEBEC

lower class the social class below the middle class; working class, or proletariat

lower criticism textual criticism of the Scriptures

lower forty-eight the forty-eight conterminous States of the United States: a term used mainly by Alaskans Usually written lower 48

lower house [often L- H-] in a legislature having two branches, that branch which is usually larger and more representative, as the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress

Lower Saxony state of NW Germany, on the North Sea: 18,319 sq. mi. (47,447 sq. km); pop. 7,230,000; cap. Hanover

Lower Silurian ORDOVICIAN

lower world 1 NETHER WORLD 2 the earth

lower¹ (lou´эr) •adj. 1 in a place or on a level below another {lower lip} 2 inferior in rank, authority, or dignity {the lower classes} 3 being farther south, closer to a shore or to the mouth of a river, or below land of higher elevation 4 [L-] Archaeol., Geol. earlier: used of a division of a period {Lower Devonian, Lower Paleolithic} •n. [Colloq.] Æ 1 a lower berth, as in a Pullman car 2 [pl.] the lower teeth or dentures •vt. 1 to let or put down {lower the window} 2 to reduce in height, elevation, amount, value, etc. {to lower prices} 3 to weaken or lessen {to lower one's resistance} 4 to bring down in respect, dignity, etc.; demean {to lower oneself by accepting a bribe} 5 to reduce (a sound) in volume or pitch •vi. to become lower; sink, fall, become reduced, etc. [compar. of LOW¹]

lower² (lau´эr) •vi. 1 to scowl or frown 2 to appear dark and threatening •n. a frowning or threatening look [ME louren, akin to LURK, Ger lauern, to lurk, MHG luren, to watch]

lowercase (lou´эr keis') •n. small-letter type used in printing, as distinguished from capital letters (uppercase) •adj. designating, of, or in lowercase •vt. -cased', -cas'ing to print in or change to lowercase [from their being kept in the lower of two cases of type]

lowerclassman (-klæs´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a student in the freshman or sophomore class of a high school or college

lowering (lau´эr iŋ) •adj. 1 scowling; frowning darkly 2 dark, as if about to rain or snow; overcast {a lowering sky} low´er·ing·ly •adv. [prp. of LOWER²]

lowermost (lou´эr moust') •adj. below all others; lowest

lowery (lau´эr i:) •adj. dark and cloudy [see LOWER² & -Y²]

Lowes (louz), John Livingston 1867-1945; U.S. scholar, critic, & educator

lowest common denominator 1 LEAST COMMON DENOMINATOR 2 that which is accepted, understood, appreciated, etc. by the broadest mass of people

lowest common multiple LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE

Lowestoft (lous´töft) city in Suffolk, E England, on the North Sea: pop. 57,000 •n. a variety of porcelain formerly made there

low-grade (lou´greid') •adj. 1 of inferior quality or value 2 of little degree {a low-grade fever}

low-key (-ki:´) •adj. of low intensity, tone, etc.; subdued or restrained Also low´-keyed´

lowland (lou´lэnd; also, for n., -lænd') •n. land that is below the level of the surrounding land •adj. of, in, or from such a region the Lowlands lowland region of SC Scotland, between the Highlands & the Southern Uplands low´land·er or Low´land·er •n.

low-level (lou´lev´эl) •adj. 1 of or by persons of low office or rank 2 in a low office or rank 3 designating a computer language based on machine language and requiring translation by an assembler

lowlife (-laif') pl. -lifes' •n. [Colloq.] 1 a lower-class person 2 a person of criminal or disreputable character; a shady, coarse, or immoral person Also low´lif'er

lowly (lou´li:) -li·er, -li·est •adj. 1 of or suited to a low position or rank 2 humble; meek 3 ordinary; commonplace •adv. 1 humbly; meekly 2 in a low manner, position, etc. 3 low in sound; softly; gently low´li·ness •n.

low-minded (-main'did) •adj. having or showing a coarse, vulgar mind low´-mind'ed·ly •adv. low´-mind'ed·ness •n.

low-necked (-nekt´) •adj. having a low neckline; décolleté: said of a dress, etc. Also low´-neck´

low-pitched (-picht´) •adj. 1 having a low tone or a low range of tone {a low-pitched voice} 2 having little pitch, or slope: said of a roof 3 of low intensity; subdued

low-pressure (-presh´эr) •adj. 1 a) having or using a low or relatively low pressure b) having or indicating a low barometric pressure 2 not energetic or forceful

low-priced (-praist´) •adj. costing relatively little

low-proof (-pru:f´) •adj. low in alcohol content

lowrider or low-rider (lou´raid'эr) •n. [Southwest Colloq.] 1 a car modified with a lowered suspension, so that the body is very close to the road, used for cruising slowly 2 the driver, or a passenger, in such a car

low-rise (-raiz') •adj. designating or of a building, esp. an apartment house, having only a few stories

Lowry (lau´ri:), (Clarence) Malcolm 1909-57; Brit. writer

low-spirited (-spir'it id) •adj. in low spirits; sad; depressed low´-spir'it·ed·ly •adv. low´-spir'it·ed·ness •n.

low-tech (lou´tek´) •adj. 1 not involving specialized, complex technology: in full low´-tech·nol´o·gy Æ 2 of or having to do with businesses, systems, etc. using such technology

low-tension (-ten´shэn) •adj. having, carrying, or operating under a low voltage

low-test (lou´test') •adj. vaporizing at a relatively high temperature: said of gasoline with a low octane number

low-water mark (-wöt´эr) 1 a mark showing low water 2 the lowest point reached by anything

lox¹ (läks) •n. a variety of salty smoked salmon [via Yidd < Ger lachs, salmon, akin to OE leax, salmon, Tocharian laksi, fish < IE *lasos, salmon < base *la-, speckled]

lox² (läks) •n. liquid oxygen, esp. when used in rockets Also LOX [l(iquid) ox(ygen)]

loyal (loi´эl) •adj. 1 faithful to the constituted authority of one's country 2 faithful to those persons, ideals, etc. that one is under obligation to defend, support, or be true to 3 relating to or indicating loyalty SYN. FAITHFUL loy´al·ly •adv. [Fr < OFr loial, leial < L legalis: see LEGAL]

loyalist (-ist) •n. 1 a person who is loyal; esp., one who supports the country's established government during times of revolt Æ 2 [usually L-] in the American Revolution, a colonist who was loyal to the British government 3 [L-] in the Spanish Civil War, one who remained loyal to the Republic, opposing Franco's revolt loy´al·ism' •n.

loyalty (-ti:) pl. -ties •n. quality, state, or instance of being loyal; faithfulness or faithful adherence to a person, government, cause, duty, etc. SYN. ALLEGIANCE [ME loyaulte < OFr loialte]

Loyang (lou´yäŋ') old form of LUOYANG

Loyola (loi ou´lэ) see IGNATIUS (OF) LOYOLA, Saint

lozenge (läz´эnj) •n. 1 a plane figure with four equal sides and two obtuse angles; diamond 2 a cough drop or candy, orig. in this shape [ME losenge < OFr, prob. < Gaul *lausa, stone slab: from the shape]

LP (el'pi:´) •n. a phonograph record having microgrooves, for playing at 33¹/3 revolutions per minute [L(ong) P(laying)]

LPG liquefied petroleum gas

lpm or LPM lines per minute

LPN Licensed Practical Nurse

Lr Chem. lawrencium

LS- prefix U.S. Navy landing ship: additional letters indicate type, as LST, Landing Ship-Tank

LSAT trademark for Law School Admission Test

LSD •n. a crystalline compound, C15H15N2CON(C2H5)2, an amide of lysergic acid, used in the study of schizophrenia and other mental disorders and as a psychedelic drug: it produces hallucinations, delusions, etc. resembling those occurring in a psychotic state: also LSD 25 [l(y)s(ergic acid) d(iethylamide)]

LSI •n. an electronic circuit containing hundreds or thousands of microcircuits on a small chip of semiconductor material [l(arge-)s(cale) i(ntegration)]

lt 1 Football left tackle 2 local time 3 long ton Lt Lieutenant

Lt Comdr Lieutenant Commander

Lt Gov Lieutenant Governor

LTC or Lt Col Lieutenant Colonel

Ltd or ltd limited

LTG or Lt Gen Lieutenant General

LTJG Lieutenant, junior grade

Lu 1 Bible Luke 2 Chem. symbol for lutetium

Lualaba (lu:'э lä´bэ) upper course of the Congo, rising in SE Zaire & flowing north

Luanda (lu: än´dэ, -æn´-) capital of Angola: seaport on the Atlantic: pop. 700,000

Luang Prabang (lu: äŋ´ prэ bäŋ´) city in NC Laos, on the Mekong River: pop. 44,000

luau (lu:´au', lu: au´) •n. a Hawaiian feast, usually with entertainment [Haw]

Luba (lu:´bä') •n. 1 pl. -bas or -ba a member of a people of S Zaire 2 TSHILUBA

lubber (lûb´эr) •n. 1 a big, slow, clumsy person 2 an inexperienced, clumsy sailor; landlubber •adj. big and clumsy lub´ber·li·ness •n. lub´ber·ly •adj., adv. [ME lobre < lobbe-: see LOB]

lubber grasshopper a flightless grasshopper (Romalea microptera) of the SE U.S., with a large, dark-brown body and clumsy movements

lubber's line a fixed mark or line on a compass, aligned with the bow of a ship (or aircraft) and used as by the helmsman in steering a course: also lubber line

Lubbock (lûb´эk) city in NW Tex.: pop. 186,000 [after T. S. Lubbock, Confederate officer]

lube (lu:b) •n. 1 a lubricating oil for machinery: also lube oil 2 [Colloq.] a lubrication •vt. [Colloq.] to lubricate [contr. < lubricating (oil)]

Lübeck (lu:´bek'; Ger lü´bek') city & port in N Germany, in the state of Schleswig-Holstein: pop. 213,000

Lublin (lu:´blin; Pol lu:´bli:n') city in SE Poland: pop. 320,000

lubricant (lu:´bri kэnt) •adj. reducing friction by providing a smooth film as a covering over parts that move against each other; lubricating •n. a substance for reducing friction in this way, as oil or grease [L lubricans, prp.: see LUBRICATE]

lubricate (-keit') -cat'ed, -cat'ing •vt. 1 to make slippery or smooth 2 to apply a lubricant to •vi. to serve as a lubricant lu'bri·ca´tion •n. lu´bri·ca'tive •adj. [< L lubricatus, pp. of lubricare, to make smooth or slippery < lubricus, smooth, slippery < IE base *sleub-, to slide, slip > SLIP³, SLEEVE]

lubricator (-keit'эr) •n. a person or thing that lubricates; specif., a) a lubricant b) an oil cup or similar device for supplying a lubricant to machinery

lubricity (lu: bris´i ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 slipperiness; smoothness; esp., effectiveness as a lubricant as indicated by this quality 2 trickiness; shiftiness 3 lewdness lu·bri´cious (-brish´эs) or lu´bri·cous (-bri kэs) •adj. [Fr lubricité < LL lubricitas]

Lubumbashi (lu:'bu:m bä´shi:) city in SE Zaire, near the border of Zambia: pop. 451,000

Lucan (lu:´kэn) •adj. of or characteristic of the Evangelist Luke or the book of the New Testament ascribed to him Lucan (lu:´kэn) (L. name Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) A.D. 39-65; Rom. poet, born in Spain

Lucania (lu: kei´ni: э) 1 ancient district in S Italy, now in the Italian region of BASILICATA 2 Mount mountain in the St. Elias range, SW Yukon, Canada: 17,150 ft. (5,227 m)

lucarne (lu:´kärn') •n. a dormer window [Fr, altered (by assoc. with OFr luiserne, lantern: see LUCERNE) < OFr lucanne < ? Frank *lukinna, a lamp, dim. < *luk-: for IE base see LIGHT¹]

Lucas van Leyden (lu:´käs' vän laid´ªn) (born Lucas Jacobsz) 1494-1533; Du. painter & etcher

Lucca (lu:´kä') city in Tuscany, W Italy: pop. 90,000

luce (lu:s) •n. the pike, esp. when full-grown [ME < OFr lus < L lucius, kind of fish] Luce (lu:s), Henry Robinson 1898-1967; U.S. editor & publisher

lucent (lu:´sэnt) •adj. 1 giving off light; shining 2 translucent or clear lu´cen·cy •n. lu´cent·ly •adv. [L lucens, prp. of lucere, to shine: see LIGHT¹]

Lucerne (lu: sørn´; Fr lü seřn´) 1 canton in central Switzerland: 577 sq. mi. (1,494 sq. km); pop. 302,000 2 its capital: pop. 73,000 3 Lake of lake in central Switzerland: 44 sq. mi. (113 sq. km)

lucerne or lucern (lu: sørn´) •n. [Chiefly Brit.] ALFALFA [Fr luzerne < Prov luzerno, lit., glowworm < Prov luzerna, lamp, ult. < L lucerna, lamp < lucere (see LIGHT¹): so named because of the shiny seeds]

luces (lu:´si:z') •n. alt. pl. of LUX

Luchow (lu:´jou´) old form of LUZHOU

Lucia (lu: chi:´э, -ä', -si:´э; lu:´si: э, -shi: э, -shэ-) a feminine name: see LUCIUS, LUCY [It < L: see LUCIUS, LUCY]

Lucian (lu:´shэn) fl. 2d cent. A.D.; Gr. satirist, born in Syria [L Lucianus, lit., of Lucius]

lucid (lu:´sid) •adj. 1 [Old Poet.] bright; shining 2 transparent 3 designating an interval of sanity in a mental disorder 4 clear to the mind; readily understood {lucid instructions} 5 clearheaded; rational {a lucid thinker} lu·cid´i·ty or lu´cid·ness •n. lu´cid·ly •adv. [L lucidus < lucere, to shine: see LIGHT¹]

Lucifer (lu:´sэ fэr) 1 the planet Venus when it is the morning star 2 Theol. SATAN; specif., in Christian theology, Satan as leader of the fallen angels: he was an angel of light until he revolted against God and, with the others, was cast into hell •n. [l-] an early type of friction match [ME < OE < L, morning star (in ML, Satan), lit., light-bringing < lux (gen. lucis), LIGHT¹ + ferre, to BEAR¹]

luciferase (lu: sif´эr eis') •n. an oxidizing enzyme that acts with luciferin to produce light [fol. + -ASE]

luciferin (-эr in) •n. a substance in luminescent organisms, as fireflies, that produces light by combining with oxygen in the presence of luciferase [L lucifer (see LUCIFER) + -IN¹]

luciferous (-эr эs) •adj. [Now Rare] providing light or mental insight [L lucifer (see LUCIFER) + -OUS]

Lucille (lu: si:l´) a feminine name: see LUCY

Lucina (lu: sai´nэ) Rom. Myth. the goddess of childbirth: variously identified with Juno and Diana

Lucinda (lu: sin´dэ) a feminine name: see LUCY

Lucite (lu:´sait') trademark for an acrylic resin or plastic that is cast or molded into transparent or translucent sheets, rods, etc. [< L lux (gen. lucis), LIGHT¹ + -ITE¹]

Lucius (lu:´shэs) a masculine name: fem. Lucia [L < lux, LIGHT¹]

luck (lûk) •n. 1 the seemingly chance happening of events that affect someone; fortune; fate 2 good fortune; success, prosperity, advantage, etc. 3 an object believed to bring good luck •vi. [Colloq.] to be lucky enough to come (into, on, through, etc.) Æ crowd (or push) one's luck [Slang] to take unnecessary risks in an already favorable situation down on one's luck in misfortune; unlucky in luck fortunate; lucky Æ luck out [Colloq.] to have things turn out favorably for one; be lucky out of luck unfortunate; unlucky try one's luck to try to do something without being sure of the outcome worse luck unfortunately [ME lucke, prob. < MDu luk, contr. < gelucke < ODu *gilukki (> Ger glück, fortune, good luck) < ? IE base *leug-, to bend (> LEEK, LOCK¹): basic sense what bends together, hence, what occurs, what is fitting, lucky occurrence]

luckless (-lis) •adj. having no good luck; unlucky luck´less·ly •adv. luck´less·ness •n.

Lucknow (lûk´nau') city in N India: capital of Uttar Pradesh: pop. 1,007,000

lucky (lûk´i:) luck´i·er, luck´i·est •adj. 1 having good luck; fortunate 2 happening or resulting fortunately {a lucky change} 3 believed to bring good luck {a lucky coin} luck´i·ly •adv. luck´i·ness •n.

lucky dip [Brit.] GRAB BAG

lucrative (lu:´krэ tiv) •adj. producing wealth or profit; profitable; remunerative {a lucrative investment} lu´cra·tive·ly •adv. lu´cra·tive·ness •n. [ME lucratif < L lucrativus < pp. of lucrari, to gain < lucrum: see LUCRE]

lucre (lu:´kэr) •n. riches; money: now chiefly in a humorously derogatory sense, as in filthy lucre (cf. 1 Tim. 3:3) [ME < L lucrum, gain, riches < IE base *lāu-, to capture > Sans lŏtram, booty, OE lean, OHG lon, reward]

Lucretia (lu: kri:´shэ, -shi: э) a feminine name: equiv. Fr. Lucrece, It. Lucrezia [L, fem. of Lucretius < ? lucrum: see LUCRE]

Lucretius (lu: kri:´shэs, -shi: эs) (born Titus Lucretius Carus) c. 96-c. 55 B.C.; Rom. poet & Epicurean philosopher

lucubrate (lu:´kэ breit', -kyu:-) -brat'ed, -brat'ing •vi. 1 to work, study, or write laboriously, esp. late at night 2 to write in a scholarly manner lu´cu·bra'tor •n. [< L lucubratus, pp. of lucubrare, to work by candlelight < lux (gen. lucis), LIGHT¹]

lucubration (lu:'kэ brei´shэn, -kyu:-) •n. 1 the act of lucubrating; laborious work, study, or writing, esp. that done late at night 2 something produced by such study, etc.; esp., a learned or carefully elaborated work 3 [often pl.] any literary composition: humorous usage suggesting pedantry [L lucubratio < prec.]

luculent (lu:´kyu: lэnt) •adj. 1 [Rare] bright; shining 2 clear to the understanding; lucid lu´cu·lent·ly •adv. [ME < L luculentus < lux (gen. lucis), LIGHT¹]

Lucullus (lu: kûl´эs), (Lucius Lucinius) c. 110-c. 57 B.C.; Rom. general & consul: proverbial for his wealth & luxurious banquets Lu·cul´lan (-эn), Lu·cul´li·an (-i: эn), or Lu·cul·le·an (lu:'kэ li:´эn) •adj.

Lucy (lu:´si:) 1 a feminine name: var. Lucille, Lucile, Lucinda; equiv. It. & Sp. Lucia 2 Saint (died c. A.D. 303); It. martyr: her day is Dec. 13 [prob. via Fr Lucie < L Lucia fem. of Lucius: see LUCIUS]

Lucy Stoner (stoun´эr) one who advocates that married women use only their maiden names [see Lucy STONE]

Lüda (lu´dä') urban complex in NE China, at the tip of the Liaodong Peninsula: it consists of the seaports of Dalian (formerly Dairen) & Lüshun (formerly Port Arthur): pop. 7,000,000

Luddite (lûd´ait') •n. 1 any of a group of workers in England (1811-1816) who smashed new labor-saving textile machinery in protest against unemployment and reduced wages 2 a person opposed in principle to technological change: a pejorative term •adj. of or relating to Luddites [said to be after a Ned Lud, feebleminded man who smashed two frames belonging to a Leicestershire employer (c. 1779)]

lude (lu:d) •n. [Slang] a methaqualone pill [< QUAALUDE]

Ludhiana (lu:'di: ä´nэ) city in N India, in Punjab: pop. 607,000

ludic (lu:´dik) •adj. expressive of a playful but aimless outlook {the ludic uses of rhyme} [Fr ludique < L ludus: see LUDICROUS]

ludicrous (lu:´di krэs) •adj. so absurd, ridiculous, or exaggerated as to cause or merit laughter SYN. ABSURD lu´di·crous·ly •adv. lu´di·crous·ness •n. [L ludicrus < ludus, a play, game < IE base *leid-, to play, tease > Gr loidorein, to rail at, rebuke]

Ludwigshafen (lud´vigz hä'fэn) city in SW Germany, on the Rhine, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate: pop. 156,000

lues (lu:´i:z') •n. SYPHILIS lu·et´ic (-et´ik) •adj. [ModL < L, a plague, decay < luere, to flow: see LOSE]

luff (lûf) •n. 1 the act of sailing close or closer to the wind 2 the forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail •vi. 1 to turn the bow of a ship toward the wind; sail close or closer to the wind 2 to flutter: said of a sail, as on a boat that is heading too close to the wind 3 to raise or lower the jib of a crane [ME lof < ODu loef, weather side (of a ship), auxiliary oar for steering, akin to ON lōfi, palm of the hand < IE base *lēp-, *lōp-, flat object, flat hand > OHG lappo, flat hand, rudder blade, Russ lopata, a shovel, rudder blade]

luffa (lûf´э) •n. 1 DISHCLOTH GOURD 2 the fibrous, vascular skeleton of the pod of a dishcloth gourd, used as a sponge [ModL < Ar lūf]

luftmensch (luft´mensh') pl. -mensch'en (-men'shэn) •n. an impractical, unrealistic person [Yidd < Ger luft, air (see LUFTWAFFE) + mensch, person]

Luftwaffe (luft´vä'fэ) •n. the air force of a) Nazi Germany b) the Federal Republic of Germany [Ger < luft, air (akin to OE lyft, air & ON lopt: see LOFT) + waffe, WEAPON]

lug¹ (lûg) lugged, lug´ging •vt. 1 to carry or drag (something heavy) 2 to introduce (a topic, story, etc.) without good reason into a conversation or discourse •n. [< ?] 1 [Scot.] an ear 2 an earlike projection by which a thing is held or supported 3 a loop on the side of a harness through which the shaft passes 4 a heavy bolt that extends out from an axle hub or a disc brake, used, with a lug nut, to mount a wheel 5 a shallow box for shipping fruit or produce Æ 6 [Slang] money exacted for political purposes: chiefly in put the lug on, to exact a contribution from 7 [Slang] a fellow, esp. a loutish fellow 8 [Archaic] the act of lugging [ME luggen, prob. < Scand, as in Swed lugga, to pull, lit., pull by the hair < lugg, forelock]

lug² (lûg) •n. short for LUGSAIL

lug³ (lûg) •n. short for LUGWORM [< ?]

Lugano (lu: gä´nou) 1 city in S Switzerland: pop. 28,000 2 Lake lake on the border between Switzerland and Italy: c. 20 sq. mi. (51 sq. km)

Lugansk (lu: gänsk´) city in E Ukraine, in the Donets Basin: pop. 497,000: see VOROSHILOVGRAD

luge (lu:zh) •n. a racing sled on which the rider lies face up •vi. luged, luge´ing to race with such a sled [Fr < dial. (esp. in Savoy and Switzerland), prob. ult. < Gaul]

Luger (lu:´gэr) trademark for a German automatic pistol •n. [often l-] this pistol [Ger]

luggage (lûg´ij) •n. suitcases, valises, trunks, etc.; baggage [< LUG¹ + -AGE]

lugger (lûg´эr) •n. a small vessel equipped with a lugsail or lugsails

lugsail (lûg´seil'; naut., -sэl) •n. a four-sided sail with the upper edge supported by a yard that is fastened obliquely to the mast [< ? LUG¹, with reference to hauling sail around the mast in changing course]

lugubrious (lэ gu:´bri: эs, -gyu:´-) •adj. very sad or mournful, esp. in a way that seems exaggerated or ridiculous lu·gu´bri·ous·ly •adv. lu·gu´bri·ous·ness •n. [L lugubris < lugere, to mourn (< IE base *leug-, *leug-, to break > Welsh llwyth, burden) + -OUS]

lugworm (lûg´wørm') •n. any of a family (Arenicolidae) of polychaetous worms that burrow into sandy seashores and are used for bait [LUG³ + WORM]

Luichow (lэ wi:´jou´) old form of LEIZHOU

Luik (loik) Fl. name of LIÈGE

Lukács (lu:´käch'), Györ·gy (Szegedi von) (dyëř´dyэ) 1885-1971; Hung. philosopher & literary critic

Luke (lu:k) 1 a masculine name 2 Bible a) one of the four Evangelists, a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul and the reputed author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles: his day is Oct 18 (also Saint Luke) b) the third book of the New Testament, telling the story of Jesus' life (abbrev. Lk or Lu) [LL(Ec) Lucas < Gr(Ec) Loukas, prob. contr. of Loukanos]

lukewarm (lu:k´wörm') •adj. 1 barely or moderately warm: said of liquids 2 not very warm or enthusiastic {lukewarm praise} luke´warm'ly •adv. luke´warm'ness •n. [ME luke warme < luke, tepid (akin to LowG luk, Du leuk, tepid < IE *leu- < base *el-, warm > OE hleowe, tepid, L calere, to be warm) + warm, WARM]

lull (lûl) •vt. 1 to calm or soothe by gentle sound or motion: chiefly in lull to sleep 2 to bring into a specified condition by soothing and reassuring {to lull people into a false sense of security} 3 to make less intense; quiet; allay {to lull one's fears} •vi. to become calm •n. a short period of quiet or of comparative calm, lessened activity, etc. [ME lullen, of echoic orig.]

lullaby (lûl´э bai') pl. -bies' •n. 1 a song for lulling a baby to sleep; cradlesong 2 music for this •vt. -bied', -by'ing to lull with or as with a lullaby [< lulla (< ME), echoic + -by, as in BYE-BYE]

Lully (lü li:´), Jean Bap·tiste (zhäñ bå ti:st´) (born Giovanni Battista Lulli) 1632-87; Fr. composer, chiefly of operas, born in Italy

Lulu (lu:´lu:) a feminine name: see LOUISE •n. [l-] [Slang] Æ 1 any person or thing outstanding for some quality, as a beautiful girl, a difficult task, etc. Æ 2 a fixed allowance given in lieu of payment for itemized expenses

lum (lûm) •n. [Scot. or North Eng.] a chimney [< ?]

lumbago (lûm bei´gou) •n. rheumatic pain in the lumbar region; backache, esp. in the lower part of the back [L < lumbus, loin: see LUMBAR]

lumbar (lûm´bär', -bэr) •adj. of or near the loins; specif., designating or of the vertebrae, nerves, arteries, etc. in the part of the back just below the thoracic region [ModL lumbaris < L lumbus, loin < IE *londhwos < base *lendh- > OE lendenu, loins]

lumber¹ (lûm´bэr) •n. 1 miscellaneous discarded household articles, furniture, etc. stored away or taking up room Æ 2 timber sawed into beams, planks, boards, etc. of convenient sizes •vt. 1 a) to fill or obstruct with useless articles or rubbish; clutter b) [Brit. Colloq.] to encumber or burden (often with with) Æ 2 to remove (timber) from (an area) for use as lumber Æ vi. to cut down timber and saw it into lumber Æ lum´ber·er •n. [< ? LOMBARD: orig., pawnbroker's shop or storeroom, hence pawned articles in storage, hence stored articles, hence lumber]

lumber² (lûm´bэr) •vi. 1 to move heavily, clumsily, and often, noisily {tanks lumbering up a slope} 2 to rumble [ME lomeren < ? Scand, as in Swed lomra, to resound, loma, to walk heavily]

lumbering¹ (lûm´bэr iŋ) •n. Æ the work or business of cutting down trees and preparing lumber

lumbering² (lûm´bэr iŋ) •adj. 1 moving heavily, clumsily, or noisily 2 rumbling lum´ber·ing·ly •adv.

lumberjack (lûm´bэr jæk') •n. 1 LOGGER 2 an earlier type of short, woolen or leather coat or jacket, of a kind worn by lumberjacks: also called lumber jacket

lumberman (-mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. 1 [Now Rare] LOGGER 2 a person who deals in lumber

lumberyard (-yärd') •n. a place where lumber is kept for sale

lumbo- (lûm´bou, -bэ) combining form 1 loin 2 lumbar, lumbar and {lumbovertebral} [< L lumbus, loin: see LUMBAR]

lumbricalis (lûm'bri kei´lis) pl. -ca´les' (-kei´li:z') any of four small muscles in the palm of the hand and in the sole of the foot Also lum´bri·cal (-kэl) •n. [ModL < L lumbricus, intestinal worm, earthworm: from the shape of the muscles]

lumbricoid (lûm´bri koid') •adj. resembling an earthworm [< L lumbricus (see LUMBRICALIS) + -OID]

lumen (lu:´mэn) pl. -mi·na (-mi nэ) or -mens •n. 1 a unit of measure for the flow of light, equal to the amount of flow through a unit solid angle from a uniform point source of one candela: abbrev. lm 2 the bore of a hollow needle, catheter, etc. 3 Anat. the passage within a tubular organ [ModL < L, LIGHT¹]

luminaire (lu:'mэ ner´) •n. a floodlight fixture, with a lamp, reflector, etc. [Fr, light, lighting < LL(Ec) luminare, a light, lamp: see LUMINARY]

luminance (lu:´mэ nэns) •n. 1 the quality or state of being luminous 2 a measure of the brightness of a luminous surface, measured in candelas per unit area [< L lumen (gen. luminis), LIGHT¹ + -ANCE]

luminaria (lu:'mэ ner´i: э) pl. -i·as •n. an ornament traditional in Mexico and SW U.S., consisting of a candle in an open, sand-filled paper bag, lighted outdoors in celebration of Christmas

luminary (lu:´mэ ner'i:) pl. -nar'ies •n. 1 a body that gives off light, such as the sun or moon 2 a) a person who sheds light on some subject or enlightens mankind; famous intellectual b) any famous or well-known person [OFr luminarie < LL(Ec) luminarium < L luminare: see ILLUMINATE]

luminesce (lu:'mэ nes´) -nesced´, -nesc´ing •vi. to be or become luminescent [back-form. < LUMINESCENT]

luminescence (lu:'mэ nes´эns) •n. any giving off of light caused by the absorption of radiant or corpuscular energy and not by incandescence; any cold light; specif., fluorescence or phosphorescence occurring in various chemical, biological, electrical, etc. processes at relatively low temperatures [< L lumen, LIGHT¹ + -ESCENCE]

luminescent (-эnt) •adj. of, exhibiting, or capable of exhibiting luminescence [< L lumen, LIGHT¹ + -ESCENT]

luminiferous (lu:'mэ nif´эr эs) •adj. giving off or transmitting light [< L lumen, LIGHT¹ + -FEROUS]

luminosity (-näs´э ti:) •n. 1 the quality or condition of being luminous 2 pl. -ties something luminous 3 brightness [ML luminositas]

luminous (lu:´mэ nэs) •adj. 1 giving off light; shining; bright 2 filled with light; illuminated 3 glowing in the dark, as paint with a phosphor in it 4 clear; readily understood 5 intellectually brilliant SYN. BRIGHT lu´mi·nous·ly •adv. lu´mi·nous·ness •n. [ME < L luminosus < lumen, LIGHT¹]

luminous energy LIGHT¹ (sense 1a)

luminous flux the flow of light measured in lumens

lummox (lûm´эks) •n. [Colloq.] a clumsy, stupid person [< ?]

lump sum a gross, or total, sum paid at one time

lump¹ (lûmp) •n. 1 a solid mass of no special shape, esp. one small enough to be taken up in the hand; hunk 2 a) a small cube or oblong piece b) such a cube or piece made of sugar crystals bound together with sugar syrup 3 a swelling or protuberance, as one caused by a blow or formed by a tumor or cyst 4 a) [Obs.] aggregate or collection b) a great mass, amount, number, etc. 5 a dull, clodlike person Æ 6 [pl.] [Colloq.] hard blows, punishment, criticism, or the like: usually in get (or take) one's lumps or give someone his lumps •adj. forming or formed into a lump or lumps {lump sugar} •vt. 1 to put together in a lump or lumps 2 to treat or deal with in a mass, or include in one group 3 to make lumps in •vi. 1 to become lumpy 2 to move heavily and laboriously: usually with along in the lump in the mass or aggregate; all together lump in one's throat a tight feeling in the throat, as from restrained emotion [ME lompe, lumpe, akin ? to Dan lompe, a mass, lump, Swed dial. lump, a block, stump, MHG lumpe, rag: see LIMP¹]

lump² (lûmp) •vt. Æ [Colloq.] to dislike and have to put up with (something disagreeable) {if you don't like it, you can lump it} [Early ModE, to look sour < ? prec., but infl. by GRUMP, MUMP]

lumpectomy (lûm pek´tэ mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical removal of a breast tumor with minimum removal of adjacent normal tissues [LUMP¹ + -ECTOMY]

lumpen (lum´pэn; E lûm´-) •adj. designating or of persons or groups regarded as belonging to a low or contemptible segment of their class or kind because of their unproductiveness, shiftlessness, alienation, degeneration, etc. •n. pl. lum·pen such a person or group [shortened < lumpenproletariat < Ger, lowest level of the proletariat: coined (1850) by Karl Marx < lumpen-, trashy (< lump, scoundrel, ragamuffin, lit., rag < MHG lumpe: see LIMP¹) + proletariat, PROLETARIAT]

lumper (lûmp´эr) •n. a laborer who helps to load and unload ships; longshoreman [LUMP¹, vt. + -ER]

lumpfish (lûmp´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' or -fish'es any of several bulky, sluggish percoid fishes (family Cyclopteridae), with bony tubercles, or knobs, studding the skin and pelvic fins united to form a sucker; esp., a N Atlantic species (Cyclopterus lumpus) Also lump´suck'er •n. [prob. so called from the bony tubercles]

lumpish (lûmp´ish) •adj. 1 like a lump 2 heavy, clumsy, dull, stupid, etc. lump´ish·ly •adv. lump´ish·ness •n.

lumpy (lûmp´i:) lump´i·er, lump´i·est •adj. 1 full of lumps {lumpy pudding} 2 covered with lumps; having an uneven surface 3 rough: said of water 4 like a lump; heavy; clumsy lump´i·ly •adv. lump´i·ness •n.

lumpy jaw ACTINOMYCOSIS

Luna (lu:´nэ) 1 Rom. Myth. the goddess of the moon: identified with the Greek Selene 2 the moon personified •n. Alchemy silver [ML] [ME < L, the moon: see LIGHT¹]

luna moth a large, North American moth (Actias luna) with crescent-marked, pastel-green wings, the hind pair of which end in elongated tails

lunacy (lu:´nэ si:) •n. 1 a) orig., intermittent insanity, formerly supposed to change in intensity with the phases of the moon b) mental unsoundness; insanity 2 pl. -cies great folly or a foolish act SYN. INSANITY [LUNA(TIC) + -CY]

lunar (lu:´nэr) •adj. 1 of or on the moon 2 like the moon; specif., a) pale; pallid b) round or crescent-shaped 3 measured by the moon's revolutions {a lunar year} 4 [Rare] of or containing silver [L lunaris < luna, the moon: see LIGHT¹]

lunar caustic fused silver nitrate, used in medicine for cauterizing

lunar eclipse see ECLIPSE (sense 1)

lunar excursion module the component of the Apollo spacecraft used to carry two astronauts to the moon's surface and return them to the command and service modules that remained in lunar orbit

lunar month see MONTH (sense 3)

lunar rover an electric-powered, four-wheeled, open vehicle used by astronauts to explore the surface of the moon

lunar year see YEAR (sense 4)

lunarian (lu: ner´i: эn) •n. 1 a supposed inhabitant of the moon 2 one who makes a study of the moon [< L lunaris (see LUNAR) + -IAN]

lunate (lu:´neit', -nit) •adj. crescent-shaped: also lu´nat·ed lu´nate·ly •adv. [L lunatus, pp. of lunare, to bend like a half-moon < luna, the moon]

lunatic (lu:´nэ tik) •adj. 1 suffering from lunacy; insane 2 of or characterized by lunacy 3 of or for insane persons 4 utterly foolish •n. an insane person Term seldom used now except in hyperbolic extension [ME lunatik < OFr lunatique < LL lunaticus, moon-struck, crazy < L luna, the moon: see LIGHT¹]

lunatic fringe that minority considered foolishly extremist, fanatic, etc. in a political, social, religious, or other movement

lunation (lu: nei´shэn) •n. LUNAR MONTH [ME lunacyon < ML lunatio < L luna, the moon: see LIGHT¹]

lunch (lûnch) •n. 1 any light meal; esp., the regular midday meal between breakfast and dinner 2 the food prepared for such a meal •vi. to eat lunch •vt. to provide lunch for out to lunch [Slang] crazy; insane lunch´er •n. [earlier, a piece, thick piece < ?: first appears as rendering of Sp lonja, slice of ham, which it formerly paralleled in pronun.]

luncheon (lûnch´эn) •n. a lunch; esp., a formal lunch with others [earlier lunchion, lunshin < prec., prob. after dial. nuncheon, a snack, lunch < ME nonachenche, lit., noon drink]

luncheon meat meat processed in loaves, sausages, etc. and ready to eat

luncheonette (lûn'chэn et´) •n. a place where light lunches are served [see -ETTE]

lunchroom (lûnch´ru:m') •n. 1 a restaurant where light, quick meals, as lunches, are served 2 a room in an office, school, etc. where lunches, usually brought in, may be eaten

Lundy's Lane (lûn´di:z) road near Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada: site of an indecisive battle (1814) between British & American forces [< ?]

lune¹ (lu:n) •n. a crescent-shaped figure on a plane or spherical surface [Fr < L luna, the moon: see LIGHT¹]

lune² (lu:n) •n. a leash for a hawk [var. of loyn < OFr loigne < ML longia < L longus, LONG¹]

lunes (lu:nz) •n.pl. [Now Rare] fits of lunacy [Fr, pl. of lune, whim, lit., moon < L luna: see LIGHT¹]

lunette (lu: net´) •n. 1 a crescent-shaped figure or object 2 a crescent-shaped opening in a vaulted roof to admit light 3 a semicircular space, often containing a windowpane or a mural, above a door or window 4 Mil. a projecting fieldwork consisting of two faces and two flanks [Fr, dim. of lune, the moon: see LUNES]

Lunéville (lü nei vi:l´) city in NE France: treaty signed here (1801) between France & Austria: pop. 22,000

lung (lûŋ) •n. 1 either of the two spongelike respiratory organs in the thorax of vertebrates, that oxygenate the blood and remove carbon dioxide from it 2 any analogous organ in invertebrates at the top of one's lungs in one's loudest voice [ME lunge < OE lungen, akin to Ger lunge < IE base *legwh-, light in weight and movement: the lungs were so named because of their lightness: see LIGHTS]

lunge¹ (lûnj) •n. 1 a sudden thrust with a sword or other weapon 2 a sudden plunge forward •vi. lunged, lung´ing to make a lunge or move with a lunge [< the n.] •vt. to cause to lunge; thrust with a lunge lung´er •n. [contr. < allonge < Fr, lit., a lengthening < allonger, to lengthen, thrust < a- (< L ad), to + long < L longus, LONG¹]

lunge² (lûnj) lunged, lung´ing •n., vt. LONGE

lunger (lûŋ´эr) •n. [Old Slang] a person who has tuberculosis of the lungs

lungfish (lûŋ´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' •n.or -fish'es any of two orders (Ceratodiformes and Lepidosireniformes) of bony fishes having lungs as well as gills

lungi (luŋ´gi:, lûŋ´-) •n. in India, a) a long cloth used for loincloths, scarves, turbans, etc. b) a loincloth [Hindi & Pers lungī]

lungwort (lûŋ´wørt') •n. any of various plants formerly used in treating lung diseases; esp., any of a genus (Pulmonaria) of European plants of the borage family, with large, spotted leaves and clusters of blue or purple flowers [ME longwort < OE lungenwyrt (see LUNG & WORT²): from a fancied resemblance to human lungs]

luni- (lu:´ni, -nэ) combining form 1 moon {lunitidal} 2 moon and {lunisolar} [< L luna, the moon: see LIGHT¹]

lunisolar (lu:'ni sou´lэr) •adj. involving the mutual relationship or combined attraction of the moon and sun {lunisolar tides} [prec. + SOLAR]