Lacing - Lacuna

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Lacing (lāsĭng), n. 1. The act of securing, fastening, or tightening, with a lace or laces.
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2. A lace; specifically (Mach.), a thong of thin leather for uniting the ends of belts.
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3. (Naut.) A rope or line passing through eyelet holes in the edge of a sail or an awning to attach it to a yard, gaff, etc.
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4. (Bridge Building) A system of bracing bars, not crossing each other in the middle, connecting the channel bars of a compound strut. Waddell.
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5. A quantity of a substance, such as an alcoholic liquor, added to a food or a drink; as, punch with a lacing of rum.
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6. A beating, especially with a lash.
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Lacinia (?), n.; pl. L. Laciniæ (#). [L., the lappet or flap of a garment.] 1. (Bot.) (a) One of the narrow, jagged, irregular pieces or divisions which form a sort of fringe on the borders of the petals of some flowers. (b) A narrow, slender portion of the edge of a monophyllous calyx, or of any irregularly incised leaf.
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2. (Zoöl.) The posterior, inner process of the stipes on the maxillæ of insects.
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{ Laciniate (?), Laciniated (?), } a. [See .] 1. Fringed; having a fringed border.
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2. (Bot. & Zoöl.) Cut into deep, narrow, irregular lobes; slashed.
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Laciniolate (?), a. [See .] (Bot.) Consisting of, or abounding in, very minute laciniæ.
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Lacinula (?), n.; pl. Lacinulæ (#), E. Lacinulas (#). [NL.] (Bot.) A diminutive lacinia.
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Lack (lăk), n. [OE. lak; cf. D. lak slander, laken to blame, OHG. lahan, AS. leán.] 1. Blame; cause of blame; fault; crime; offense. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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2. Deficiency; want; need; destitution; failure; as, a lack of sufficient food.
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She swooneth now and now for lakke of blood. Chaucer.
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Let his lack of years be no impediment. Shak.
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Lack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacked (lăkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Lacking.] 1. To blame; to find fault with. [Obs.]
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Love them and lakke them not. Piers Plowman.
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2. To be without or destitute of; to want; to need.
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If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. James i. 5.
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Lack, v. i. 1. To be wanting; often, impersonally, with of, meaning, to be less than, short, not quite, etc.
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What hour now?
I think it lacks of twelve. Shak.
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Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty. Gen. xvii. 28.
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2. To be in want.
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The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger. Ps. xxxiv. 10.
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Lack, interj. [Cf. .] Exclamation of regret or surprise. [Prov. Eng.] Cowper.
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lackadaisical (lăkȧdāzĭk�l), a. [From , interj.] 1. Affectedly pensive; languidly sentimental; dreamy.
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2. Lacking spirit or liveliness; lethargic; listless; languid.
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3. Indolent; lazy; idle, especially in a dreamy manner.
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-- Lackadaisically, adv.
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Lackadaisy (?), interj. [From , interj.] An expression of languor.
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Lackadaisy, a. Lackadaisical.
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Lackaday (?), interj. [Abbreviated from alackaday.] Alack the day; alas; -- an expression of sorrow, regret, dissatisfaction, or surprise.
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Lackbrain (?), n. One who is deficient in understanding; a witless person. Shak.
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Lacker (?), n. One who lacks or is in want.
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Lacker, n. & v. See .
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Lackey (?), n.; pl. Lackeys (#). [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E. lick, v.] An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower.
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Like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey. Shak.
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Coloq. Lackey caterpillar (Zoöl.), the caterpillar, or larva, of any bombycid moth of the genus Clisiocampa; -- so called from its party-colored markings. The common European species (Clisiocampa neustria) is striped with blue, yellow, and red, with a white line on the back. The American species (Clisiocampa Americana and Clisiocampa sylvatica) are commonly called tent caterpillars. See Tent caterpillar, under . -- Coloq. Lackey moth (Zoöl.), the moth which produces the lackey caterpillar.
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Lackey, v. t. To attend as a lackey; to wait upon.
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A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.
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Lackey, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Lackeyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lackeying.] To act or serve as lackey; to pay servile attendance.
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{ Lackluster, Lacklustre } (?), n. A lack of luster.
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{ Lackluster, Lacklustre } a. 1. Wanting luster or brightness. “Lackluster eye.” Shak.
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2. Lacking spirit, liveliness, or enthusiasm; dull.
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3. Mediocre; as, a lackluster performance.
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Lacmus (?), n. See .
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Laconian (?), a. Of or pertaining to Laconia, a division of ancient Greece; Spartan. -- n. An inhabitant of Laconia; esp., a Spartan.

{ Laconic (?), Laconical (?), } a. [L. Laconicus Laconian, Gr. ��, fr. �� a Laconian, Lacedæmonian, or Spartan: cf. F. laconique.] 1. Expressing much in few words, after the manner of the Laconians or Spartans; brief and pithy; concise; brusque; epigrammatic. In this sense laconic is the usual form.
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I grow laconic even beyond laconicism; for sometimes I return only yes, or no, to questionary or petitionary epistles of half a yard long. Pope.
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His sense was strong and his style laconic. Welwood.
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2. Laconian; characteristic of, or like, the Spartans; hence, stern or severe; cruel; unflinching.
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His head had now felt the razor, his back the rod; all that laconical discipline pleased him well. Bp. Hall.

Syn. -- Short; brief; concise; succinct; sententious; pointed; pithy. -- , . Concise means without irrelevant or superfluous matter; it is the opposite of diffuse. Laconic means concise with the additional quality of pithiness, sometimes of brusqueness.
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Laconic, n. Laconism. [Obs.] Addison.
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Laconical (?), a. See , a.
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Laconically, adv. In a laconic manner.
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Laconicism (?), n. Same as . Pope.
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Laconism (?), n. [Gr. �, fr. � to imitate Lacedæmonian manners, to speak laconically: cf. F. laconisme.] 1. A vigorous, brief manner of expression; laconic style.
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2. An instance of laconic style or expression.
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Laconize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laconized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Laconizing (?).] [Gr. �. See .] To imitate the manner of the Laconians, especially in brief, pithy speech, or in frugality and austerity.
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Lacquer (?), n. [F. lacre a sort of sealing wax, Pg. lacte, fr. laca lac. See the resin.] [Written also lacker.] A varnish, consisting of a solution of shellac in alcohol, often colored with gamboge, saffron, or the like; -- used for varnishing metals, papier-maché, and wood. The name is also given to varnishes made of other ingredients, esp. the tough, solid varnish of the Japanese, with which ornamental objects are made.
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Lacquer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Lacquered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Lacquering.] To cover with lacquer. “Lacquer'd chair.” Pope.
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Lacquerer (?), n. One who lacquers, especially one who makes a business of lacquering.
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Lacquering, n. The act or business of putting on lacquer; also, the coat of lacquer put on.
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lacrimation n. shedding tears; same as .
Syn. -- lachrymation, tearing, watering.
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lacrimator n. a chemical substance that causes tears to flow; same as .
Syn. -- lachrymator.
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lacrimatory adj. relating to or inducing tears; -- especially of chemical substances; same as .
Syn. -- lachrymatory.
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Lacrimoso (?), a. [It. See .] (Mus.) Plaintive; -- a term applied to a mournful or pathetic movement or style. Moore.
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Lacrosse (?), n. [F. la crosse, lit., the crosier, hooked stick. Cf. .] A game of ball, originating among the North American Indians, now the popular field sport of Canada, and played also in England and the United States. Each player carries a long-handled racket, called a “crosse”. The ball is not handled but caught with the crosse and carried on it, or tossed from it, the object being to carry it or throw it through one of the goals placed at opposite ends of the field.
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Lacrymal (?), n. & a. See , n., and , a.
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{ Lacrymary, Lacrytory, Lacrymose. } See , , .
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Lactage (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. laitage. See .] The produce of animals yielding milk; milk and that which is made from it.
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Lactam (?), n. [Lactone + amido.] (Chem.) One of a series of anhydrides of an amido type, analogous to the lactones, as oxindol; a cyclic amide.
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Coloq. beta-lactam or Coloq. β-lactam , (a) a lactam in which the amide bond is contained within a four-membered ring, which includes the amide nitrogen and the carbonyl carbon. (b) an antibiotic containing a beta-lactam, such as a penicillin, cephalosporin, or carbapenem; also called a beta-lactam antibiotic. [informal, laboratory slang]
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Lactamic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an amido acid related to lactic acid, and called also amido-propionic acid.
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Lactamide (?), n. [Lactic + amide.] (Chem.) An acid amide derived from lactic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance having a neutral reaction. It is metameric with alanine.
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Lactant (?), a. [L. lactans, p. pr. of lactare to suck, fr. lac, lactis, milk.] Suckling; giving suck.
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Lactarene (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk.] A preparation of casein from milk, used in printing calico.
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Lactary (?), a. [L. lactarius, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactaire.] Milky; full of white juice like milk. [Obs.] “Lactary or milky plants.” Sir T. Browne.
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Lactary, n. a dairyhouse. [R.]
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Lactate (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactate.] (Chem.) A salt of lactic acid.
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lactating adj. actively producing milk; -- of female mammals.
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Lactation (?), n. The secretion and yielding of milk by the mammary gland; giving suck.
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Lacteal (?), a. [L. lacteus milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk. Cf. , .] 1. Pertaining to, or resembling, milk; milky; as, the lacteal fluid.
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2. (Anat. & Physiol.) Pertaining to, or containing, chyle; as, the lacteal vessels.
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Lacteal, n. (Anat.) One of the lymphatic vessels which convey chyle from the small intestine through the mesenteric glands to the thoracic duct; a chyliferous vessel.
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Lacteally, adv. Milkily; in the manner of milk.
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Lactean (?), a. [See .] 1. Milky; consisting of, or resembling, milk. “This lactean whiteness.” Moxon.
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2. (Anat. & Physiol.) Lacteal; conveying chyle.
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Lacteous (?), a. [See .] 1. Milky; resembling milk. “The lacteous circle.” Sir T. Browne.
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2. Lacteal; conveying chyle; as, lacteous vessels.
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Lacteously, adv. In a lacteous manner; after the manner of milk.
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Lactescence (?), n. [Cf. F. lactescence.] 1. The state or quality of producing milk, or milklike juice; resemblance to milk; a milky color.
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This lactescence does commonly ensue when . . . fair water is suddenly poured upon the solution. Boyle.
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2. (Bot.) The latex of certain plants. See .
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Lactescent (?), a. [L. lactescens, p. pr. of lactescere to turn to milk, incho. fr. lactere to be milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactescent.] 1. Having a milky look; becoming milky. [Obs.]
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2. (Bot.) Producing milk or a milklike juice or fluid, as the milkweed. See .
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Lactic (?), a. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactique. See , and cf. .] (Physiol. Chem.) Of or pertaining to milk; procured from sour milk or whey; as, lactic acid; lactic fermentation, etc.
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Coloq. Lactic acid (Physiol. Chem.), a sirupy, colorless fluid, soluble in water, with an intensely sour taste and strong acid reaction. There is one center of optical activity, and this results in the observation of three isomeric modifications all having the formula C3H6O3; one is dextrorotatory (L-lactic acid), the other levorotatory (D-lactic acid), and the third an optically inactive mixture of the first two (DL-lactic acid); chemically it is 2-hydroxypropanoic acid. Sarcolactic acid or paralactic acid occurs chiefly in dead muscle tissue, while ordinary lactic acid (DL-lactic acid) results from fermentation, such as the fermentation of milk by lactic acid bacteria. The two acids are alike in having the same constitution (expressed by the name ethylidene lactic acid), but the latter is optically inactive, while sarcolactic acid rotates the plane of polarization to the right. The third acid, ethylene lactic acid, accompanies sarcolactic acid in the juice of flesh, and is optically inactive. -- Coloq. Lactic ferment , an organized ferment (Bacterium lacticum or Bacterium lactis), which produces lactic fermentation, decomposing the sugar of milk into carbonic and lactic acids, the latter, of which renders the milk sour, and precipitates the casein, thus giving rise to the so-called spontaneous coagulation of milk. -- Coloq. Lactic fermentation . See under .
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Lactide (?), n. [Lactic + anhydride.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline substance, obtained from lactic acid by distillation, and regarded as an anhydride; also, by extension, any similar substance.
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Lactiferous (?), a. [l. lac, lactis, milk + -ferous: cf. F. lactifère.] Bearing or containing milk or a milky fluid; as, the lactiferous vessels, cells, or tissue of various vascular plants.
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{ Lactific (?), Lactifical (?), } a. [L. lac, lactis, milk + facere to make.] Producing or yielding milk.
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Lactifuge (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + fugare to expel.] (Med.) A medicine to check the secretion of milk, or to dispel a supposed accumulation of milk in any part of the body.
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Lactim (?), n. [Lactic + imido.] (Chem.) One of a series of anhydrides resembling the lactams, but of an imido type; as, isatine is a lactim. Cf. .
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Lactimide (?), n. [Lactic + imide.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline substance obtained as an anhydride of alanine, and regarded as an imido derivative of lactic acid.
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Lactin (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. lactine. Cf. .] (Physiol. Chem.) See .
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Lactoabumin (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. albumin.] (Physiol. Chem.) The albumin present in milk, apparently identical with ordinary serum albumin. It is distinct from the casein of milk.
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Lactobutyrometer (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. butyrometer.] An instrument for determining the amount of butter fat contained in a given sample of milk.
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Lactodensimeter (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. densimeter.] A form of hydrometer, specially graduated, for finding the density of milk, and thus discovering whether it has been mixed with water or some of the cream has been removed.
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Lactometer (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + meter: cf. F. lactomètre. Cf. .] An instrument for estimating the purity or richness of milk, as a measuring glass, a specific gravity bulb, or other apparatus.
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Lactone (?), n. (Chem.) One of a series of organic compounds, being cyclic esters which may be regarded as anhydrides of certain hydroxy acids. In general, they are colorless liquids, having a weak aromatic odor. They are so called because the typical lactone is derived from lactic acid.
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Lactonic (?), a. [From .] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, a lactone.
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Lactonic, a. [From .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained by the oxidation of milk sugar (lactose).
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Lactoprotein (?), n. [L. lac, lactis, milk + E. protein.] (Physiol. Chem.) A peculiar albuminous body considered a normal constituent of milk.
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Lactory (?), a. Lactiferous. [Obs.] “Lactory or milky plants.” Sir T. Browne.
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Lactoscope (?), n. [L. lac, lactis + scope.] An instrument for estimating the amount of cream contained in milk by ascertaining its relative opacity.
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lactose (lăktōs), n. 1. (Physiol. Chem.) The main sugar present in milk, called also sugar of milk or milk sugar. When isolated pure it is obtained crystalline; it is separable from the whey by evaporation and crystallization. It is a disaccharide with the formula C12H22O11, being chemically 4-(β-D-galactosido)-D-glucose. It has a slightly sweet taste, is dextrorotary, and is much less soluble in water than either cane sugar or glucose. Formerly called lactin. When hydrolyzed it yields glucose and galactose. In cells it may be hydrolyzed by the enzyme β-galactosidase.
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2. (Chem.) See .
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lactose intolerance (lăktōs ĭntŏlẽr�ns), n. A physiological condition in which lactose cannot be hydrolyzed in the intestine, leading to uncomfortable gaseousness, cramps, or diarrhea after eating a lactose-containing food such as milk or ice cream. The symptoms may be prevented by ingesting a preparation of beta-galactosidase before or together with dairy products.
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Lactuca (?), n. [L., lettuce. See .] (Bot.) A genus of composite herbs, several of which are cultivated for salad; lettuce.
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Lactucarium (?), n. [NL., fr. L. lactuca lettuce.] The inspissated juice of the common lettuce, sometimes used as a substitute for opium.
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Lactucic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, the juice of the Lactuca virosa; -- said of certain acids.
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Lactucin (?), n. [From : cf. F. lactucine.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline substance, having a bitter taste and a neutral reaction, and forming one of the essential ingredients of lactucarium.
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Lactucone (?), n. [From .] (Chem.) A white, crystalline, tasteless substance, found in the milky sap of species of Lactuca, and constituting an essential ingredient of lactucarium.
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Lacturamic (�), a. [Lactic + urea + amic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an organic amido acid, which is regarded as a derivative of lactic acid and urea.
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Lactyl (?), n. [Lactic + -yl.] (Chem.) An organic residue or radical (CH3.CHOH.CO-) derived from lactic acid.
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Lacuna (lȧkūnȧ), n.; pl. L. Lacunæ (lȧkūnæ); E. Lacunas (lȧkūnȧz). [L., ditch, pit, lake, orig., anything hollow. See .] 1. A small opening; a small pit or depression; a small blank space; a gap or vacancy; a hiatus.
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2. (Biol.) A small opening; a small depression or cavity; a space, as a vacant space between the cells of plants, or one of the spaces left among the tissues of the lower animals, which serve in place of vessels for the circulation of the body fluids, or the cavity or sac, usually of very small size, in a mucous membrane.
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