lank
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C2 adjective /læŋk/

lank

grand et maigre
Meaning
Tall, thin, and often awkward in appearance.
Example
The lank teenager towered over his classmates.
Le jeune grand et maigre dominait ses camarades de classe.
C2 noun /liː/

lea

prairie
Meaning
An open area of grassy or arable land; a meadow.
Example
The cottage was surrounded by a quiet lea.
Le cottage était entouré d'une prairie tranquille.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ɡɔːrd/

Long gourd

courge longue
Meaning
an elongated green vegetable belonging to the cucumber family, used in cooking
Example
She sliced the long gourd thinly for the stir-fry dish.
Elle a coupé la courge longue en tranches fines pour le plat sauté.
C2 verb /læmˈpuːn/

lampoon

ridiculiser
Meaning
to publicly criticize or ridicule someone or something with humor, irony, or sarcasm
Example
The cartoonist lampooned the politician for his contradictory statements.
Le caricaturiste a ridiculisé le politicien pour ses déclarations contradictoires.
C2 noun /ˈliː.vɪŋz/

Leavings

restes; restes de repas
Meaning
things that have been left behind or remain; remnants or scraps
Example
The leavings from dinner were given to the dog.
Les restes du dîner ont été donnés au chien.
C2 noun /ˈlɑːrsəni/

larceny

vol
Meaning
The unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.
Example
He was arrested for committing larceny at the store.
Il a été arrêté pour avoir commis un vol dans le magasin.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.tɪʃ/

latish

un peu en retard
Meaning
Somewhat late; occurring or arriving later than usual but not very late.
Example
We arrived latish to the party but still caught most of the fun.
Nous sommes arrivés un peu en retard à la fête, mais nous avons quand même profité de la plupart du plaisir.
C2 noun /ˈlev.ɪ.ti/

Levity

légèreté; frivolité; manque de respect
Meaning
humor or frivolity, especially the treatment of a serious matter with humor or in a manner lacking due respect
Example
The levity in the courtroom was inappropriate.
La légèreté dans la salle d'audience était inappropriée.
C2 verb /ˈlɪk.wɪ.faɪ/

liquefy

liquéfier
Meaning
to make or become liquid
Example
The heat will liquefy the butter in a few minutes.
La chaleur liquéfiera le beurre en quelques minutes.
C2 adjective /ˈluːsənt/

lucent

lumineux
Meaning
shining or glowing with light
Example
The lucent stars brightened the night sky.
Les étoiles lumineuses ont illuminé le ciel nocturne.
C2 verb /ˈlaɪ.ə.naɪz/

lionize

lioniser
Meaning
to treat someone as a celebrity or give a lot of public attention
Example
The press began to lionize the young scientist after his discovery.
La presse a commencé à lioniser le jeune scientifique après sa découverte.
C2 verb /lɪm/

limn

décrire / représenter
Meaning
to depict or describe something vividly in words or art.
Example
The author limned the beauty of the countryside.
L'auteur a décrit la beauté de la campagne de manière vivante.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfər/

lexicographer

lexicographe
Meaning
A person who compiles, writes, or edits dictionaries.
Example
The lexicographer spent years compiling the dictionary.
Le lexicographe a passé des années à compiler le dictionnaire.
C2 noun /ˈlæŋɡər/

languor

langueur
Meaning
A state of tiredness, inertia, or dreamy relaxation.
Example
The hot afternoon filled her with languor.
L'après-midi chaud l'a remplie de langueur.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfi/

lexicography

lexicographie
Meaning
The art or practice of compiling dictionaries.
Example
Lexicography requires both linguistic and cultural knowledge.
La lexicographie nécessite à la fois des connaissances linguistiques et culturelles.
C2 noun /ˈleɪ.ɪ.ti/

laity

laïcs
Meaning
Ordinary members of a religious community who are not clergy.
Example
The church welcomed the laity to participate in the event.
L'église a accueilli les laïcs pour participer à l'événement.
C2 noun /ˈlæki/

lackey

domestique
Meaning
a person who is overly willing to serve or obey someone else
Example
He treated his assistant like a mere lackey.
Il a traité son assistant comme un simple domestique.
C2 adjective /ˈlaʊtɪʃ/

loutish

grossier
Meaning
Clumsy, rude, or aggressive in behavior.
Example
His loutish remarks offended everyone at the meeting.
Ses remarques grossières ont offensé tout le monde à la réunion.
C2 noun /lækˈteɪʃən/

lactation

production de lait
Meaning
the secretion of milk by the mammary glands of female mammals
Example
The doctor explained that lactation is a natural process after childbirth.
Le médecin a expliqué que la lactation est un processus naturel après l'accouchement.
C2 noun /lɒx/

loch

lac
Meaning
a lake or sea inlet, especially in Scotland
Example
Tourists visit Loch Ness to search for the legendary monster.
Les touristes visitent le Loch Ness pour chercher le monstre légendaire.
C2 adjective /ˌluː.mɪˈnɛs.ənt/

luminescent

lumineux
Meaning
Emitting light without heat, glowing softly.
Example
The luminescent watch dial was visible in the dark.
Le cadran lumineux de la montre était visible dans l'obscurité.
C2 noun /ˈlændˌhoʊl.dər/

landholder

propriétaire foncier
Meaning
a person who owns land, especially in large amounts
Example
The landholder leased part of his property to local farmers.
Le propriétaire foncier a loué une partie de sa propriété à des agriculteurs locaux.
C2 adjective /ˈlaɪbələs/

libelous

diffamatoire
Meaning
containing or constituting a false published statement that damages a person's reputation
Example
The article was found to be libelous and had to be retracted.
L'article a été jugé diffamatoire et a dû être retiré.
C2 verb /ˈlɛvɪteɪt/

levitate

léviter
Meaning
to rise or float in the air, usually without visible support.
Example
The magician made the table levitate during the show.
Le magicien a fait léviter la table pendant le spectacle.
C2 noun /ˈlætɪs/

lattice

structure en treillis
Meaning
A structure of crossed strips arranged in a grid or crisscross pattern.
Example
The garden was decorated with a wooden lattice covered in vines.
Le jardin était décoré d'une structure en treillis en bois recouverte de vignes.
C2 noun /ˈlɛtʃ.əri/

lechery

lubie
Meaning
excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness
Example
The novel depicted the lechery of corrupt nobles.
Le roman dépeignait la lubricité des nobles corrompus.
C2 adjective /lɪˈtɪdʒəs/

litigious

litigieux
Meaning
prone to engage in lawsuits or overly inclined to argue legally
Example
He is known as a litigious neighbor who often sues people.
Il est connu comme un voisin litigieux qui poursuit fréquemment les gens.
C2 noun /lɒx/ or /lɒk/

lough

lac
Meaning
An Irish or Scottish word for a lake or sea inlet.
Example
The fishermen lived by the lough for generations.
Les pêcheurs vivaient près du lac pendant des générations.
C2 noun /ˌlɪt.əˈrɑː.ti/

literati

littérateurs
Meaning
well-educated, literary, or scholarly people
Example
The event was attended by poets, critics, and other members of the literati.
L'événement a été assisté par des poètes, des critiques et d'autres membres des littérateurs.
C2 noun /liːən/

lien

privilège
Meaning
A legal right to keep possession of property until a debt is paid.
Example
The bank placed a lien on the house until the mortgage was cleared.
La banque a placé un privilège sur la maison jusqu'à ce que l'hypothèque soit réglée.
C2 verb /lʌɡˈʒʊrieɪt/

luxuriate

se livrer à des plaisirs
Meaning
to enjoy something in a self-indulgent way; to take pleasure in great comfort
Example
She luxuriated in the warm bubble bath after a long day.
Elle s'est luxurieuse dans le bain à bulles chaud après une longue journée.
C2 adjective /lɪˈbɪdənəs/

libidinous

lubrique
Meaning
Showing excessive sexual drive; lustful.
Example
The play was criticized for its libidinous characters.
La pièce a été critiquée pour ses personnages lubriques.
C2 noun /ˈlɪniəmənt/

lineament

caractéristique
Meaning
A distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face.
Example
Her delicate lineaments revealed her noble birth.
Ses délicates caractéristiques ont révélé sa noble naissance.
C2 noun /laʊs/

Louse

Poux
Meaning
a small insect that lives on the hair or skin of people or animals
Example
The child had a louse in his hair.
L'enfant avait un poux dans ses cheveux.
C2 verb /læmˈbæst/

lambast

critiquer sévèrement
Meaning
To criticize harshly or to beat severely.
Example
The coach lambasted the team for their poor performance.
L'entraîneur a sévèrement critiqué l'équipe pour sa mauvaise performance.
C2 noun /liːdʒ/

liege

seigneur féodal
Meaning
A feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service; a loyal subject.
Example
The knight pledged loyalty to his liege.
Le chevalier prêta allégeance à son seigneur féodal.
C2 noun /lænˈtɑː.nə/

Lantana

lantana
Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with clusters of small colorful flowers
Example
The lantana flowers attract butterflies to the garden.
Les fleurs de lantana attirent les papillons dans le jardin.
C2 adjective /ˈliːwərd/

leeward

côté abrité du vent
Meaning
On or toward the sheltered side away from the wind.
Example
They built their camp on the leeward side of the hill.
Ils ont installé leur camp du côté abrité du vent de la colline.
C2 verb /lɑːl/

loll

s'asseoir paresseusement
Meaning
To sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
Example
He lolled on the sofa after a long day at work.
Après une longue journée de travail, il s'est affalé sur le canapé.
C2 noun /ˈlaɪər/

lier

menteur
Meaning
a person who tells lies; an alternative spelling of liar
Example
No one trusted him because he was known as a habitual lier.
Personne ne lui faisait confiance parce qu’il était un menteur habituel.
C2 noun /laɪər/

lyre

lyre
Meaning
a stringed musical instrument of ancient Greece
Example
The musician played a melody on the lyre.
Le musicien a joué une mélodie sur la lyre.
C2 adverb/adjective /lɪˈɡɑːtoʊ/

legato

en musique, joué ou chanté de manière fluide et connectée
Meaning
In music, played or sung smoothly and connectedly.
Example
The pianist played the passage legato, with each note flowing into the next.
Le pianiste a joué le passage legato, chaque note se fondant dans la suivante.
C2 noun /ˈlɑːrdər/

larder

garde-manger
Meaning
A place, such as a pantry, where food is stored.
Example
The larder was full of fresh bread and cheese.
Le garde-manger était plein de pain frais et de fromage.
C2 adjective /ləˈkɒnɪk/

laconic

laconiques
Meaning
using very few words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
Example
His laconic reply ended the conversation quickly.
Sa réponse laconiques a rapidement mis fin à la conversation.
C2 adjective /ˈlɔːdəˌtɔːri/

laudatory

élogieux
Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration.
Example
She wrote a laudatory review of the new book.
Elle a écrit une critique élogieuse du nouveau livre.
C2 noun ˈlɪɡ.nəʊˌsæt

LignoSat

satellite en bois
Meaning
A wooden satellite that demonstrates the use of wood in space technology.
Example
LignoSat demonstrates the use of wood in space.
LignoSat démontre l'utilisation du bois dans l'espace.
C2 adjective /ˈlæk.rɪ.moʊs/

lachrymose

larmoyant, triste
Meaning
tearful or given to weeping; sad and mournful
Example
The movie's lachrymose ending left the audience in tears.
La fin larmoyante du film a laissé le public en larmes.
C2 noun /lɪnt/

lint

peluche
Meaning
small soft fibers that come off cloth, often found in dryers or on clothes
Example
There was lint all over his black shirt after the wash.
Il y avait de la peluche sur sa chemise noire après le lavage.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪəri/

leery

méfiant
Meaning
Cautious or wary due to suspicion or distrust.
Example
She was leery of investing in the new business.
Elle était méfiante à l'idée d'investir dans le nouveau business.
C2 noun /ˈliːdʒənəri/

legionary

soldat romain
Meaning
a soldier in the Roman army
Example
Each legionary carried a shield and a short sword.
Chaque légionnaire portait un bouclier et une épée courte.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ˈpepər/

Long pepper

poivre long
Meaning
a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit which is used as a spice
Example
Long pepper was more valuable than black pepper in ancient times.
Le poivre long était plus précieux que le poivre noir dans les temps anciens.
C2 noun /lɑːrˈʒes/

largess

générosité
Meaning
Generosity in giving gifts or money.
Example
The foundation survived thanks to the largess of wealthy donors.
La fondation a survécu grâce à la générosité des donateurs fortunés.
C2 noun /lɔːˈdeɪʃən/

laudation

éloges
Meaning
The act of praising or expressing approval.
Example
The poet received much laudation for his moving verses.
Le poète a reçu de nombreux éloges pour ses vers émouvants.
C2 noun /ˈlæɡ.ərd/

Laggard

personne qui fait des progrès lents et qui reste derrière les autres
Meaning
a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others; someone who is slow to act
Example
The laggard student finally submitted his assignment after the deadline.
L'étudiant en retard a finalement soumis son devoir après la date limite.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪsɪt/

licit

licite
Meaning
Permitted by law or by rules; legal.
Example
The trade of certain goods is licit under international law.
Le commerce de certains biens est licite selon le droit international.
C2 noun /loʊm/

loam

sol argileux fertile
Meaning
Fertile soil mixture of sand, clay, and organic matter.
Example
Loam soil is ideal for agriculture due to its nutrient content.
Le sol loameux est idéal pour l'agriculture en raison de sa teneur en nutriments.
C2 adjective /ˌlɛvəlˈhɛdɪd/

levelheaded

calme et sensé
Meaning
calm and sensible; showing good judgment.
Example
She remained levelheaded during the crisis.
Elle est restée calme pendant la crise.
C2 noun /ˈlɒkətɪv/

locative

locatif
Meaning
a grammatical case indicating location or place
Example
In Latin, the locative case is used to indicate location.
En latin, le cas locatif est utilisé pour indiquer un lieu.
C2 adjective /ˈlaɪðsəm/

lithesome

souple et gracieux
Meaning
gracefully flexible and supple
Example
Her lithesome figure allowed her to move like a ballerina.
Sa silhouette souple lui permettait de bouger comme une ballerine.
C2 noun /ˌlaɪ.pəˈdʒen.ɪ.sɪs/

lipogenesis

lipogenèse
Meaning
The metabolic process of fat synthesis where excess carbohydrates are converted into fatty acids and stored as triglycerides.
Example
Excess carbohydrate intake promotes lipogenesis and fat storage.
Une consommation excessive de glucides favorise la lipogenèse et le stockage des graisses.
C2 noun /ˈlɛvi/

levee

levée
Meaning
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river or to hold back water.
Example
The town built a levee to protect itself from flooding.
La ville a construit une levée pour se protéger des inondations.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪsəm/

lissome

mince, souple et gracieux en mouvement
Meaning
Thin, supple, and graceful in movement.
Example
The dancer moved with a lissome elegance.
La danseuse se déplaçait avec une élégance lissome.
C2 adjective /ləˈsɪviəs/

lascivious

lascif
Meaning
showing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
Example
The lascivious remarks made everyone uncomfortable.
Les remarques lascives ont mis tout le monde mal à l'aise.
C2 noun /ˈlæsɪtjuːd/

lassitude

lassitude
Meaning
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy
Example
After the long hike, a feeling of lassitude swept over the group.
Après la longue randonnée, un sentiment de lassitude a envahi le groupe.
C2 adjective /ˈlɛtʃ.ər.əs/

lecherous

lubrique
Meaning
having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire
Example
The character was portrayed as a lecherous old man.
Le personnage a été dépeint comme un homme lubrique.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərˌtiːn/

libertine

personne immorale
Meaning
A person who behaves without moral principles, especially in sexual matters.
Example
The novel depicted the reckless life of a libertine in 18th century France.
Le roman décrivait la vie débridée d'un libertin dans la France du XVIIIe siècle.
C2 noun /ˈlʊŋ.gi/

Lungi

lungi
Meaning
a traditional garment worn around the waist in South Asia
Example
He wore a comfortable lungi while relaxing at home.
Il portait un lungi confortable tout en se reposant chez lui.
C2 verb /ˈlæs.ə.reɪt/

lacerate

lacérer, déchirer
Meaning
to tear or cut deeply in the skin or flesh
Example
The broken glass lacerated his hand.
Le verre brisé a lacéré sa main.
C2 adjective /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/

lackadaisical

désinvolte ou paresseux
Meaning
lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination; careless or lazy
Example
His lackadaisical attitude toward work annoyed his boss.
Son attitude désinvolte envers le travail agaçait son patron.
C2 noun/verb /ˈlɛv.ən/

leaven

levure
Meaning
a substance, typically yeast, that causes dough to rise; to permeate and modify
Example
A little yeast will leaven the bread dough.
Un peu de levure fera lever la pâte du pain.
C2 noun /ˈlænjæp/

lagniappe

cadeau supplémentaire
Meaning
A small gift or bonus given by a seller to a customer.
Example
The shopkeeper offered a piece of candy as a lagniappe.
Le commerçant a offert un bonbon comme cadeau supplémentaire.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtɪɡənt/

litigant

plaignant
Meaning
a person involved in a lawsuit
Example
The court summoned both litigants for the hearing.
Le tribunal a convoqué les deux plaignants pour l'audience.
C2 noun /ˈlɔɪtərər/

loiterer

personne qui traîne sans but dans un endroit
Meaning
A person who lingers aimlessly in a place without purpose.
Example
The police questioned the loiterer outside the store.
La police a interrogé le loiterer dehors du magasin.
C2 noun /ˈlɒdʒ.mənt/

lodgment

hébergement temporaire
Meaning
The act of lodging or a place of temporary stay; also a deposit of something.
Example
The soldiers found lodgment in the abandoned house.
Les soldats ont trouvé un hébergement temporaire dans la maison abandonnée.
C2 noun /ˈluː.mən/

lumen

lumen
Meaning
A unit of luminous flux, measuring the amount of visible light emitted by a source.
Example
The bulb produces 800 lumens of light.
L'ampoule produit 800 lumens de lumière.
C2 verb /loʊp/

lope

courir ou se déplacer avec de grandes foulées
Meaning
to run or move with a long, bounding stride
Example
The horse loped gracefully across the field.
Le cheval se déplaçait élégamment à travers le champ.
C2 adjective /luːd/

lewd

obscène
Meaning
Sexually offensive, obscene, or vulgar.
Example
He was arrested for making lewd remarks in public.
Il a été arrêté pour avoir fait des remarques obscènes en public.
C2 adjective /loʊˈkweɪʃəs/

loquacious

loquace
Meaning
tending to talk a great deal; very talkative
Example
The loquacious child entertained everyone with endless stories.
L'enfant loquace a diverti tout le monde avec des histoires sans fin.
C2 adjective /luːˈɡuːbriəs/

lugubrious

lugubre
Meaning
looking or sounding sad and dismal
Example
His lugubrious expression made everyone feel uneasy.
Son expression lugubre a mis tout le monde mal à l'aise.
C2 noun /ləˈdʒɪʃən/

logician

logicien
Meaning
A person skilled in logic and reasoning.
Example
Aristotle is considered one of the greatest logicians in history.
Aristote est considéré comme l'un des plus grands logiciens de l'histoire.
C2 verb /leɪv/

lave

laver
Meaning
To wash or bathe.
Example
She laved her face with cool water.
Elle a lavé son visage avec de l'eau froide.
C2 noun /ˈlɔːndrəs/

laundress

blanchisseuse
Meaning
A woman whose job is washing clothes and linens.
Example
The laundress delivered the freshly cleaned clothes to the household.
La blanchisseuse a livré les vêtements fraîchement lavés à la maison.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.baɪl/ or /ˈlæb.aɪl/

labile

instable
Meaning
easily altered or unstable; prone to change
Example
Her mood was so labile that it changed several times in an hour.
Son humeur était tellement instable qu'elle a changé plusieurs fois en une heure.
C2 adjective /ˈluː.ni/

Loony

fou; idiot; mentalement instable
Meaning
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
Example
His loony behavior made everyone laugh.
Son comportement fou a fait rire tout le monde.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪmpɪd/

limpid

limpide
Meaning
Clear and transparent, easily understood.
Example
The limpid water of the lake reflected the sky perfectly.
L'eau limpide du lac reflétait parfaitement le ciel.
C2 phrase /lɛt ðɛm ˈθɪə.ri/

let them theory

théorie de laisser les autres penser ce qu'ils veulent
Meaning
A philosophy of not trying to control others' actions or opinions and allowing them to be themselves.
Example
He follows the Let them theory and ignores negativity.
Il suit la théorie de 'les laisser' et ignore la négativité.
C2 noun /lɒŋ ˈwɪskəd ˈkætfɪʃ/

Long whiskered catfish

poisson-chat à longues moustaches
Meaning
A type of freshwater fish with long whisker-like barbels around its mouth
Example
The fisherman caught a long whiskered catfish in the river.
Le pêcheur a attrapé un poisson-chat à longues moustaches dans la rivière.
C2 noun /laʊt/

lout

vulgaire
Meaning
An uncouth or aggressive man or boy.
Example
The drunken lout caused a scene at the party.
Le loubard ivre a causé une scène à la fête.
C2 noun /loʊd/

lode

filons minéraux
Meaning
A rich source of something, often a vein of valuable metal in the earth.
Example
The miners discovered a rich lode of silver.
Les mineurs ont découvert un riche filon d'argent.
C2 adjective /ˈluːpi/

loopy

fou
Meaning
crazy, silly, or eccentric
Example
After working all night, he felt a little loopy.
Après avoir travaillé toute la nuit, il se sentait un peu fou.
C2 noun /ˈlɪŋ.ɡoʊ/

lingo

jargon spécialisé
Meaning
Specialized or informal language used by a particular group that is often difficult for outsiders to understand.
Example
The manual was written in technical lingo that confused the new employees.
Le manuel était écrit en jargon technique qui a embrouillé les nouveaux employés.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪst/

liberalist

libéraliste
Meaning
a person who supports liberal ideas and principles
Example
He is a well-known liberalist advocating human rights.
Il est un libéraliste bien connu qui défend les droits de l'homme.
C2 noun /ˈlɔːŋ.ɡən/

Longan

longane
Meaning
a small round tropical fruit with translucent white flesh and sweet taste, related to lychee
Example
Longan fruits are often eaten fresh or dried and are popular in Asian desserts.
Les fruits de longane sont souvent consommés frais ou séchés et sont populaires dans les desserts asiatiques.
C2 noun /ˈlɪmərɪk/

limerick

un poème humoristique en cinq vers
Meaning
a humorous five-line poem with a specific rhythm and rhyme scheme (AABBA).
Example
She recited a funny limerick at the party.
Elle a récité un limerick amusant à la fête.
C2 noun /luːˈsɪd.ə.ti/

lucidity

lucidité
Meaning
Clarity of thought or style; the quality of being easily understood.
Example
His explanation had great lucidity, making it easy to understand.
Son explication avait une grande clarté, ce qui la rendait facile à comprendre.
C2 noun /ˈluː.nə.si/

lunacy

folie
Meaning
Extreme foolishness or madness; insanity.
Example
It was sheer lunacy to go hiking in the storm.
C'était de la pure folie de faire de la randonnée sous la tempête.
C2 noun /ˌlɛdʒərdəˈmeɪn/

legerdemain

magie, tromperie
Meaning
skillful use of one's hands when performing tricks; deception or trickery
Example
The magician's legerdemain left the audience amazed.
La magie du magicien a laissé le public émerveillé.
C2 noun /ˌlɪk.wəˈfeɪ.ʃənt/

liquefacient

liquéfiant
Meaning
a substance that causes something to become liquid
Example
The chemist explained how the liquefacient worked in the experiment.
Le chimiste a expliqué comment le liquide fonctionnait dans l'expérience.
C2 noun /lɪˈvaɪəθən/

leviathan

monstre marin géant
Meaning
a huge sea monster or something very large and powerful.
Example
The ship looked like a leviathan on the horizon.
Le navire ressemblait à un monstre marin géant à l'horizon.
C2 noun /ˈlæn.sɪt/

lancet

couteau chirurgical
Meaning
a small, sharp, two-edged surgical knife used for making small incisions
Example
The doctor used a lancet to prick the patient’s finger for a blood test.
Le médecin a utilisé un lancet pour piquer le doigt du patient pour un test sanguin.
C2 noun (plural) /ˈlɪniəmənts/

lineaments

traits du visage
Meaning
The features or distinctive characteristics of the face or body.
Example
The lineaments of his face were sharp and stern.
Les traits de son visage étaient aigus et sévères.
C2 noun /luːn/

lune

croissant
Meaning
A crescent-shaped figure formed by two intersecting arcs; also means 'moon' in French.
Example
The mathematician studied the properties of the lune.
Le mathématicien a étudié les propriétés du croissant.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtəni/

litany

litanie
Meaning
a long, repetitive, or tedious account or list; originally a form of prayer
Example
The politician gave a litany of promises during the campaign.
Le politicien a donné une longue liste de promesses pendant la campagne.
C2 noun /leɪð/

lathe

tour
Meaning
A machine for shaping wood, metal, or other material by rotating it against a cutting tool.
Example
The carpenter used a lathe to shape the wooden bowl.
Le menuisier a utilisé un tour pour façonner le bol en bois.
C2 noun /ˈlaɪtoʊtiːz/

litotes

litote
Meaning
a figure of speech in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary
Example
Saying 'not bad' as a compliment is an example of litotes.
Dire 'pas mal' comme compliment est un exemple de litote.
C2 adjective /ˈliːənaɪn/

leonine

léonin
Meaning
Of or resembling a lion.
Example
His leonine hair made him stand out in the crowd.
Ses cheveux léonins le faisaient ressortir dans la foule.
C2 adjective /ˈlæmbənt/

lambent

luisant doucement
Meaning
glowing or flickering softly; having a gentle radiance
Example
The lambent light of the candle filled the room with warmth.
La lumière luisante de la bougie remplit la pièce de chaleur.
C2 noun /ˈlæsi/

lassie

jeune fille
Meaning
a young girl (informal, mainly Scottish)
Example
The old man greeted the little lassie warmly.
Le vieil homme a salué la petite fille chaleureusement.
C2 noun /ˌlæs.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

laceration

coupure profonde
Meaning
a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh
Example
He needed stitches for a laceration on his leg.
Il avait besoin de points pour une coupure profonde à sa jambe.
C2 noun /ˌluː.mɪˈnɛs.əns/

luminescence

luminescence
Meaning
The emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat; a type of cold light.
Example
The luminescence of the fireflies lit up the forest.
La luminescence des lucioles a éclairé la forêt.
C2 noun /ˈlæriət/

lariat

lasso
Meaning
A long rope with a noose at one end used to catch animals such as cattle or horses.
Example
The cowboy threw his lariat to catch the stray horse.
Le cow-boy a lancé son lasso pour attraper le cheval errant.
C2 adjective /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/

Languid

languide; paresseux; faible
Meaning
lacking energy or vitality; slow and relaxed; weak or faint
Example
After the long journey, she felt languid and needed to rest.
Après le long voyage, elle se sentait languissante et avait besoin de repos.
C2 noun lɑːˈʒɛs

largesse

générosité
Meaning
Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others.
Example
His largesse towards the charity was greatly appreciated.
Sa largesse envers la charité a été grandement appréciée.
C2 adjective /ˈlæk.ti.əl/

lacteal

relatif au lait ou semblable au lait
Meaning
Relating to or resembling milk; conveying chyle or milky fluid.
Example
The lacteal vessels in the small intestine absorb dietary fats.
Les vaisseaux lactéaux dans l'intestin grêle absorbent les graisses alimentaires.
C2 noun /ˌluːkjʊˈbreɪʃən/

lucubration

étude nocturne
Meaning
study or meditation, especially at night
Example
His novel was the result of long lucubration.
Son roman était le résultat de longues études nocturnes.
C2 noun /ˈlɪɡ.ə.tʃər/

ligature

ligature
Meaning
A thing used for tying or binding tightly; in music/printing, two or more notes or letters joined together.
Example
The doctor used a ligature to stop the bleeding.
Le médecin a utilisé une ligature pour arrêter le saignement.
C2 noun/verb /læˈsuː/

lasso

lasso
Meaning
a rope with a loop used to catch animals; to catch with such a rope
Example
The cowboy lassoed the horse quickly.
Le cowboy a lassoé le cheval rapidement.
C2 adjective ˌlæb.əˈrɪn.θaɪn

labyrinthine

labyrinthique
Meaning
Like a labyrinth; complicated and confusing; having many interconnected paths or passages.
Example
The old city streets were labyrinthine.
Les rues de la vieille ville étaient labyrinthiques.
C2 verb /lɔːd/

laud

louer
Meaning
To praise someone or something highly, especially in public.
Example
The critic lauded the actor's performance as a masterpiece.
Le critique a loué la performance de l'acteur comme un chef-d'œuvre.
C2 verb /lɪr/

leer

regard lubrique
Meaning
To look at someone in an unpleasant, sly, or sexually suggestive way.
Example
He leered at her in a way that made her uncomfortable.
Il l'a regardée d'une manière qui l'a rendue mal à l'aise.
C2 noun /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəns/

luxuriance

luxuriance
Meaning
abundant growth, richness, or elegance
Example
The garden was filled with the luxuriance of tropical plants.
Le jardin était rempli de la luxuriance des plantes tropicales.