Lacunal - Lag

Prev Next

{ Lacunal (lȧkūn�l), Lacunar (lȧkūnẽr), } a. Pertaining to, or having, lacunæ; as, a lacunar circulation.
[ Webster]

Lacunar, n.; pl. E. Lacunars (lȧkūnẽrz), L. Lacunaria (lăk�nārĭȧ). [L.] (Arch.) (a) The ceiling or under surface of any part, especially when it consists of compartments, sunk or hollowed without spaces or bands between the panels. Gwilt (b) One of the sunken panels in such a ceiling.
[ Webster]

Lacune (lȧkūn), n. [F.] A lacuna. [R.] Landor.
[ Webster]

{ Lacunose (?), Lacunous (?), } a. [L. lacunosus full of holes or hollows; cf. F. lacuneux. See .] (Biol.) Furrowed or pitted; having shallow cavities or lacunæ; as, a lacunose leaf.
[ Webster]

{ Lacustral (?), Lacustrine (?), } a. [L. lacus lake: cf. F. lacustral, lacustre.] Found in, or pertaining to, lakes or ponds, or growing in them; as, lacustrine flowers.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Lacustrine deposits (Geol.), the deposits which have been accumulated in fresh-water areas. -- Coloq. Lacustrine dwellings . See Lake dwellings, under .
[ Webster]

Lacwork (?), n. Ornamentation by means of lacquer painted or carved, or simply colored, sprinkled with gold or the like; -- said especially of Oriental work of this kind.
[ Webster]

Lad (lăd), obs. p. p. of , to guide. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Lad (lăd), n. [OE. ladde, of Celtic origin; cf. W. llawd, Ir. lath. √123. Cf. .] 1. A boy; a youth; a stripling. “Cupid is a knavish lad.” Shak.
[ Webster]

There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves and two small fishes. John vi. 9.
[ Webster]

2. A companion; a comrade; a mate.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Lad's love . (Bot.) See Boy's love, under .
[ Webster]

Ladanum (?), n. [L. ladanum, ledanum, Gr. ladanon, lhdanon, fr. lh^don name of a shrub, mastic; cf. Per. lādan, lāden. Cf. .] A gum resin gathered from certain Oriental species of Cistus. It has a pungent odor and is chiefly used in making plasters, and for fumigation. [Written also labdanum.]
[ Webster]

Ladde (?), (obs.) imp. of , to guide. Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Ladder (lăddẽr), n. [OE. laddre, AS. hlǣder, hlǣdder; akin to OFries. hladder, OHG. leitara, G. leiter, and from the root of E. lean, v. √40. See , v. i., and cf. .] 1. A frame usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened cross strips or rounds forming steps.
[ Webster]

Some the engines play,
And some, more bold, mount ladders to the fire. Dryden.
[ Webster]

2. That which resembles a ladder in form or use; hence, that by means of which one attains to eminence; as, to climb the corporate ladder.
[ Webster +PJC]

Lowliness is young ambition's ladder. Shak.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Fish ladder . See under . -- Coloq. Ladder beetle (Zoöl.), an American leaf beetle (Chrysomela scalaris). The elytra are silvery white, striped and spotted with green; the under wings are rose-colored. It feeds upon the linden tree. -- Coloq. Ladder handle , an iron rail at the side of a vertical fixed ladder, to grasp with the hand in climbing. -- Coloq. Ladder shell (Zoöl.), a spiral marine shell of the genus Scalaria. See .
[ Webster]

ladder-back n. a chair with a ladder-back{2}.
Syn. -- ladder-back chair.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. a chair backrest consisting of 2 uprights with several connecting slats.
[WordNet 1.5]

ladder-backed n. Having horizontal stripes on the back, reminiscent of a ladder; -- used of birds; as, a ladder-backed woodpecker.
[PJC]

ladder company, ladder truck n. Same as , .
[PJC]

ladder-proof adj. resistant to runs or (in Britain) ladders; -- of hosiery.
Syn. -- runproof, run-resistant.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

Laddie (?), n. A lad; a male sweetheart. [Scot.]
[ Webster]

Lade (lād), v. t. [imp. Laded; p. p. Laded, Laden (lād'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Lading.] [AS. hladan to heap, load, draw (water); akin to D. & G. laden to load, OHG. hladan, ladan, Icel. hlaða, Sw. ladda, Dan. lade, Goth. afhlaþan. Cf. , , for turning, a load.] 1. To load; to put a burden or freight on or in; -- generally followed by that which receives the load, as the direct object.
[ Webster]

And they laded their asses with the corn. Gen. xlii. 26.
[ Webster]

2. To throw in or out, with a ladle or dipper; to dip; as, to lade water out of a tub, or into a cistern.
[ Webster]

And chides the sea that sunders him from thence,
Saying, he'll lade it dry to have his way. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. (Plate Glass Manuf.) To transfer (the molten glass) from the pot to the forming table.
[ Webster]

Lade, v. i. [See , v. t.] 1. To draw water. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

2. (Naut.) To admit water by leakage, as a ship, etc.
[ Webster]

Lade, n. [Prov. E., a ditch or drain. Cf. , to conduct.] 1. The mouth of a river. [Obs.] Bp. Gibson.
[ Webster]

2. A passage for water; a ditch or drain. [Prov. Eng.]
[ Webster]

Lademan (?), n. One who leads a pack horse; a miller's servant. [Obs. or Local]
[ Webster]

Laden (?), p. & a. Loaded; freighted; burdened; as, a laden vessel; a laden heart.
[ Webster]

Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity. Is. i. 4.
[ Webster]

A ship laden with gold. Shak.
[ Webster]

Ladied (?), a. Ladylike; not rough; gentle. [Obs.] “Stroked with a ladied land.” Feltham.
[ Webster]

Ladies' eardrops (?) n. (Bot.) The small-flowered Fuchsia (Fuchsia coccinea), and other closely related species.
[ Webster]

Ladify (?), v. t. [Lady + -fy.] To make a lady of; to make ladylike. [Obs.] Massinger.
[ Webster]

Ladin (?), n. [From L. Latinus Latin. See ] 1. A Romansch dialect spoken in some parts of Switzerland and the Tyrol.
[ Webster]

2. A person speaking Ladin as a mother tongue.
[Webster Suppl.]

Lading (?), n. 1. The act of loading.
[ Webster]

2. That which lades or constitutes a load or cargo; freight; burden; as, the lading of a ship.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Bill of lading . See under .
[ Webster]

Ladino (?), n.; pl. Ladinos (#). [Sp.] One of the half-breed descendants of whites and Indians; a mestizo; -- so called throughout Central America. They are usually of a yellowish orange tinge. Am. Cyc.
[ Webster]

Ladino (?), n.; pl. -nos (�) 1. The mixed Spanish and Hebrew language spoken by Sephardim.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. A cunningly vicious horse. [Southeastern U. S.]
[Webster Suppl.]

3. A ladin.
[Webster Suppl.]

Ladkin (?), n. A little lad. [R.] Dr. H. More.
[ Webster]

Ladle (?), n. [AS. hlædel, fr. hladan to load, drain. See , v. t.] 1. A cuplike spoon, often of large size, with a long handle, used in lading or dipping.
[ Webster]

When the materials of glass have been kept long in fusion, the mixture casts up the superfluous salt, which the workmen take off with ladles. Boyle.
[ Webster]

2. (Founding) A vessel to carry liquid metal from the furnace to the mold.
[ Webster]

3. The float of a mill wheel; -- called also ladle board.
[ Webster]

4. (Gun.) (a) An instrument for drawing the charge of a cannon. (b) A ring, with a handle or handles fitted to it, for carrying shot.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Ladle wood (Bot.), the wood of a South African tree (Cassine Colpoon), used for carving.
[ Webster]

Ladle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ladled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ladling (?).] To take up and convey in a ladle; to dip with, or as with, a ladle; as, to ladle out soup; to ladle oatmeal into a kettle.
[ Webster]

Ladleful (?), n.; pl. Ladlefuls (�). A quantity sufficient to fill a ladle.
[ Webster]

Ladrone (?), n. [Sp. ladron, L. latro servant, robber, Gr. (�) a servant.] A robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.
[ Webster]

Lady (lād�), n.; pl. Ladies (lādĭz). [OE. ladi, læfdi, AS. hlǣfdige, hlǣfdie; AS. hlāf loaf + a root of uncertain origin, possibly akin to E. dairy. See , and cf. .]
[ Webster]

1. A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household.
[ Webster]

Agar, the handmaiden of Sara, whence comest thou, and whither goest thou? The which answered, Fro the face of Sara my lady. Wyclif (Gen. xvi. 8.).
[ Webster]

2. A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; -- a feminine correlative of lord. “Lord or lady of high degree.” Lowell.
[ Webster]

Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, . . .
We make thee lady. Shak.
[ Webster]

3. A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart.
[ Webster]

The soldier here his wasted store supplies,
And takes new valor from his lady's eyes. Waller.
[ Webster]

4. A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right.
[ Webster]

5. A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; -- the feminine correlative of gentleman.
[ Webster]

6. A wife; -- not now in approved usage. Goldsmith.
[ Webster]

7. Hence: Any woman; as, a lounge for ladies; a cleaning lady; also used in combination; as, saleslady.
[PJC]

8. (Zoöl.) The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster; -- so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It consists of calcareous plates.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Ladies' man , a man who affects the society of ladies. -- Coloq. Lady altar , an altar in a lady chapel. Shipley. -- Coloq. Lady chapel , a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. -- Coloq. Lady court , the court of a lady of the manor. -- Coloq. Lady crab (Zoöl.), a handsomely spotted swimming crab (Platyonichus ocellatus) very common on the sandy shores of the Atlantic coast of the United States. -- Coloq. Lady fern . (Bot.) See Female fern, under , and Illust. of . -- Coloq. Lady in waiting , a lady of the queen's household, appointed to wait upon or attend the queen. -- Coloq. Lady Mass , a Mass said in honor of the Virgin Mary. Shipley. Coloq. Lady of the manor , a lady having jurisdiction of a manor; also, the wife of a manor lord. Coloq. Lady's maid , a maidservant who dresses and waits upon a lady. Thackeray. -- Coloq. Our Lady , the Virgin Mary.
[ Webster]

Lady, a. Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike.
[ Webster]

“Some lady trifles.” Shak.
[ Webster]

ladybeetle n. Same as .
Syn. -- ladybug, lady beetle, ladybird, ladybird beetle.
[WordNet 1.5]

Ladybird (?), n. [Equiv. to, bird of Our Lady.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small beetles of the genus Coccinella and allied genera (family Coccinellidæ); -- called also ladybug, ladyclock, lady cow, lady fly, ladybeetle, and lady beetle. Coccinella seplempunctata in one of the common European species. See .
[ Webster]

☞ The ladybirds are usually more or less hemispherical in form, with a smooth, polished surface, and often colored red, brown, or black, with small spots of brighter colors. Both the larvæ and the adult beetles of most species feed on aphids, and for this reason they are very beneficial to agriculture and horticulture.
[ Webster]

Ladybug (?), n. (Zoöl.) Same as .
[ Webster]

Ladyclock (?), n. (Zoöl.) See .
[ Webster]

Lady Day (dā) n. The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25. See .
[ Webster]

Ladyfish (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A large, handsome oceanic fish (Albula vulpes), found both in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; -- called also bonefish, grubber, French mullet, and macabé. (b) A labroid fish (Harpe rufa) of Florida and the West Indies.
[ Webster]

Ladyhood (?), n. The state or quality of being a lady; the personality of a lady.
[ Webster]

lady-in-waiting n. a lady appointed to attend to a queen or princess.
[WordNet 1.5]

Lady-killer (?), n. A gallant who captivates the hearts of women. “A renowned dandy and lady-killer.” Blackw. Mag.
[ Webster]

Lady-killing, n. The art or practice of captivating the hearts of women.
[ Webster]

Better for the sake of womankind that this dangerous dog should leave off lady-killing. Thackeray.
[ Webster]

Ladykin (?), n. [Lady + -kin.] A little lady; -- applied by the writers of Queen Elizabeth's time, in the abbreviated form Lakin, to the Virgin Mary.
[ Webster]

☞ The diminutive does not refer to size, but is equivalent to “dear.” Brewer.
[ Webster]

Ladylike (?), a. 1. Like a lady in appearance or manners; well-bred.
[ Webster]

She was ladylike, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility of those days. Hawthorne.
[ Webster]

2. Becoming or suitable to a lady; as, ladylike manners. “With fingers ladylike.” Warner.
[ Webster]

3. Delicate; tender; feeble; effeminate.
[ Webster]

Too ladylike a long fatigue to bear. Dryden.
[ Webster]

Ladylikeness (?), n. The quality or state of being ladylike.
[ Webster]

Ladylove (?), n. A sweetheart or mistress.
[ Webster]

lady-of-the-night n. (Bot.) A West Indian shrub (Brunfelsia americana) with fragrant showy yellowish-white flowers.
Syn. -- lady of the night, Brunfelsia americana.
[WordNet 1.5]

Lady's bedstraw (?), (Bot.) The common bedstraw (Galium verum); also, a slender-leaved East Indian shrub (Pharnaceum Mollugo), with white flowers in umbels.
[ Webster]

Lady's bower (?) n. (Bot.) A climbing plant with fragrant blossoms (Clematis vitalba).
[ Webster]

☞ This term is sometimes applied to other plants of the same genus.
[ Webster]

Lady's cloth (?) A kind of broadcloth of light weight, used for women's dresses, cloaks, etc.
[Webster Suppl.]

Lady's comb (?), (Bot.) An umbelliferous plant (Scandix Pecten-Veneris), its clusters of long slender fruits remotely resembling a comb.
[ Webster]

Lady's cushion (?), (Bot.) An herb growing in dense tufts; the thrift (Armeria vulgaris).
[ Webster]

lady's-eardrop (?), n. (Bot.) An erect or climbing shrub (Fuchsia coccinea) of Brazil with deep pink to red flowers.
Syn. -- ladies'-eardrop, lady's-eardrops, ladies'-eardrops, Fuchsia coccinea.
[WordNet 1.5]

Lady's finger (?), 1. pl. (Bot.) The kidney vetch, Anthyllis vulneraria; called also lady's fingers.
[ Webster]

2. (Cookery) A variety of small cake of about the dimensions of a finger.
[ Webster]

3. A long, slender variety of the potato.
[ Webster]

4. (Zoöl.) One of the branchiæ of the lobster.
[ Webster]

5. (Bot.) A tall coarse annual (Abelmoschus esculentus) of Old World tropics widely cultivated in southern U. S. and West Indies for its long mucilaginous green pods used as basis for soups and stews; it is sometimes placed in the genus Hibiscus. [wns=1] different from
Syn. -- okra, gumbo, okra plant, Abelmoschus esculentus, Hibiscus esculentus.
[WordNet 1.5]

Lady's garters (?) n. (Bot.) Ribbon grass.
[ Webster]

Lady's hair (?) n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Briza (Briza media); a variety of quaking grass.
[ Webster]

Ladyship (?), n. The rank or position of a lady; -- given as a title (preceded by her or your).
[ Webster]

Your ladyship shall observe their gravity. B. Jonson.
[ Webster]

Lady's laces (lādĭz lāsĕz) n. (Bot.) A slender climbing plant; dodder.
[ Webster]

lady-slipper n. (lād� slĭppẽr), (Bot.) Same as .
Syn. -- lady's slipper, lady's-slipper, slipper orchid.
[WordNet 1.5]

Lady's looking-glass (lādĭz l�kĭng glȧs), n. (Bot.) See Venus's looking-glass, under .
[ Webster]

Lady's mantle (lādĭz mănt'l). (Bot.) A genus of rosaceous herbs (Alchemilla), esp. the European Alchemilla vulgaris, which has leaves with rounded and finely serrated lobes.
[ Webster]

Lady's seal (lādĭz sēl).(Bot.) (a) The European Solomon's seal (Polygonatum verticillatum). (b) The black bryony (Tamus communis).
[ Webster]

Lady's slipper (?) n. (Bot.) Any orchidaceous plant of the genus Cypripedium, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. Less commonly, in the United States, the garden balsam (Impatiens Balsamina).
[ Webster]

Lady's smock (?) n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Cardamine (Cardamine pratensis); cuckoo flower.
[ Webster]

Lady's thimble (?) n. (Bot.) The harebell.
[ Webster]

Lady's thumb (?) n. (Bot.) An annual weed (Polygonum Persicaria), having a lanceolate leaf with a dark spot in the middle.
[ Webster]

{ Lady's traces (?), Ladies' tresses (?). } n. (Bot.) A name given to several species of the orchidaceous genus Spiranthes, in which the white flowers are set in spirals about a slender axis and remotely resemble braided hair.
[ Webster]

Lælaps (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � a dark, furious storm.] (Paleon.) A genus of huge, carnivorous, dinosaurian reptiles from the Cretaceous formation of the United States. They had very large hind legs and tail, and are supposed to have been bipedal. Some of the species were about eighteen feet high.
[ Webster]

Laemmergeyer (?), n. (Zoöl.) See .
[ Webster]

Læmodipod (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Læmodipoda.
[ Webster]

Læmodipoda (?), n. pl. [NL., from Gr. � throat + � twice + �, �, foot.] (Zoöl.) A division of amphipod Crustacea, in which the abdomen is small or rudimentary and the legs are often reduced to five pairs. The whale louse, or Cyamus, and Caprella are examples.
[ Webster]

Læmodipodous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Læmodipoda.
[ Webster]

Lætere Sunday (?) n. The fourth Sunday of Lent; -- so named from the Latin word Lætare (rejoice), the first word in the antiphone of the introit sung that day in the Roman Catholic service.
[ Webster]

Lævigate (?), a. [See .] (Biol.) Having a smooth surface, as if polished.
[ Webster]

Lævo- (?) pref. A prefix. See .
[ Webster]

Lævorotatory (?), a. Same as . Cf. .
[ Webster]

Lævulose (?), n. (Chem.) See .
[ Webster]

Lafayette (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The dollar fish. (b) A market fish, the goody, or spot (Liostomus xanthurus), of the southern coast of the United States.
[ Webster]

Laft (?), obs. p. p. of . Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Lafte (?), obs. imp. of . Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Lag (?), a. [Of Celtic origin: cf. Gael. & Ir. lagweak, feeble, faint, W. llag, llac, slack, loose, remiss, sluggish; prob. akin to E. lax, languid.] 1. Coming tardily after or behind; slow; tardy. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Came too lag to see him buried. Shak.
[ Webster]

2. Last; long-delayed; -- obsolete, except in the phrase lag end. “The lag end of my life.” Shak.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z