lambaste
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C2 verb /læmˈbeɪst/

lambaste

Meaning
to criticize someone or something harshly; to reprimand severely
Example
The teacher lambasted the students for not completing their homework.
C2 adjective /ˈlaɪðsəm/

lithesome

Meaning
gracefully flexible and supple
Example
Her lithesome figure allowed her to move like a ballerina.
C2 noun /ˈleɪ.ɪ.ti/

laity

Meaning
Ordinary members of a religious community who are not clergy.
Example
The church welcomed the laity to participate in the event.
C2 adjective /lɪˈtɪdʒəs/

litigious

Meaning
prone to engage in lawsuits or overly inclined to argue legally
Example
He is known as a litigious neighbor who often sues people.
C2 adjective /læŋk/

lank

Meaning
Tall, thin, and often awkward in appearance.
Example
The lank teenager towered over his classmates.
C2 noun /ˈleʧ.ər/

Lecher

Meaning
a man who behaves in a sexually inappropriate way towards women
Example
The company fired him for being a lecher.
C2 noun /ˈlɪŋ.ɡwə/

lingua

Meaning
A language, especially one used for communication among people.
Example
English has become a global lingua for business and science.
C2 adjective /luːd/

lewd

Meaning
Sexually offensive, obscene, or vulgar.
Example
He was arrested for making lewd remarks in public.
C2 adjective /ˌlɛvəlˈhɛdɪd/

levelheaded

Meaning
calm and sensible; showing good judgment.
Example
She remained levelheaded during the crisis.
C2 noun /ˈlæriət/

lariat

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.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.baɪl/ or /ˈlæb.aɪl/

labile

Meaning
easily altered or unstable; prone to change
Example
Her mood was so labile that it changed several times in an hour.
C2 noun /ˈlæsɪtjuːd/

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.
C2 noun ˈlɪɡ.nəʊˌsæt

LignoSat

Meaning
A wooden satellite that demonstrates the use of wood in space technology.
Example
LignoSat demonstrates the use of wood in space.
C2 verb /ˈlaɪ.ə.naɪz/

lionize

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.
C2 adjective /ˈleɪ.tɪʃ/

latish

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.
C2 adjective /ləˈkɒnɪk/

laconic

Meaning
using very few words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
Example
His laconic reply ended the conversation quickly.
C2 verb /leɪv/

lave

Meaning
To wash or bathe.
Example
She laved her face with cool water.
C2 adjective /luːˈɡuːbriəs/

lugubrious

Meaning
looking or sounding sad and dismal
Example
His lugubrious expression made everyone feel uneasy.
C2 noun /loʊm/

loam

Meaning
Fertile soil mixture of sand, clay, and organic matter.
Example
Loam soil is ideal for agriculture due to its nutrient content.
C2 adjective /ˈloʊð.səm/

Loathsome

Meaning
causing hatred or disgust; repulsive
Example
The loathsome smell from the garbage made everyone leave the room.
C2 adjective /ˈlaʊtɪʃ/

loutish

Meaning
Clumsy, rude, or aggressive in behavior.
Example
His loutish remarks offended everyone at the meeting.
C2 noun /lɪˈbrɛtoʊ/

libretto

Meaning
The text of an opera or other long vocal work.
Example
She studied the libretto before attending the opera performance.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪŋɡwəl/

lingual

Meaning
Relating to the tongue or speech.
Example
The dentist examined the patient's lingual surface of the teeth.
C2 verb /lɪr/

leer

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.
C2 noun /ˈlæsi/

lassie

Meaning
a young girl (informal, mainly Scottish)
Example
The old man greeted the little lassie warmly.
C2 noun /ˈlʊŋ.gi/

Lungi

Meaning
a traditional garment worn around the waist in South Asia
Example
He wore a comfortable lungi while relaxing at home.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtɪɡənt/

litigant

Meaning
a person involved in a lawsuit
Example
The court summoned both litigants for the hearing.
C2 noun /ˈluː.məˌnɛr.i/

luminary

Meaning
A person who inspires or influences others, especially in a particular field.
Example
He is considered a luminary in the world of science.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtərdʒi/

liturgy

Meaning
A form or formulary according to which public religious worship is conducted.
Example
The priest followed the liturgy during the Sunday mass.
C2 noun /ˈluː.nə.si/

lunacy

Meaning
Extreme foolishness or madness; insanity.
Example
It was sheer lunacy to go hiking in the storm.
C2 noun lɑːˈʒɛs

largesse

Meaning
Generosity in bestowing money or gifts upon others.
Example
His largesse towards the charity was greatly appreciated.
C2 noun /ˈlɪtəni/

litany

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.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪmpɪd/

limpid

Meaning
Clear and transparent, easily understood.
Example
The limpid water of the lake reflected the sky perfectly.
C2 noun /ˈlɪɡ.ə.tʃər/

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.
C2 noun /ˈlɪniəmənt/

lineament

Meaning
A distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face.
Example
Her delicate lineaments revealed her noble birth.
C2 noun /luːˈsɪd.ə.ti/

lucidity

Meaning
Clarity of thought or style; the quality of being easily understood.
Example
His explanation had great lucidity, making it easy to understand.
C2 adjective /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuːʃən/

lilliputian

Meaning
Extremely small or tiny; trivial or petty.
Example
The model village was filled with lilliputian houses.
C2 adjective /ˈliːwərd/

leeward

Meaning
On or toward the sheltered side away from the wind.
Example
They built their camp on the leeward side of the hill.
C2 adjective /ˈlæŋɡwɪd/

Languid

Meaning
lacking energy or vitality; slow and relaxed; weak or faint
Example
After the long journey, she felt languid and needed to rest.
C2 noun /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəns/

luxuriance

Meaning
abundant growth, richness, or elegance
Example
The garden was filled with the luxuriance of tropical plants.
C2 verb /lɪm/

limn

Meaning
to depict or describe something vividly in words or art.
Example
The author limned the beauty of the countryside.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪtərəl/

littoral

Meaning
Related to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake.
Example
The littoral zone is home to many unique marine species.
C2 noun /ˈlɔɪtərər/

loiterer

Meaning
A person who lingers aimlessly in a place without purpose.
Example
The police questioned the loiterer outside the store.
C2 noun /ˈlɒkətɪv/

locative

Meaning
a grammatical case indicating location or place
Example
In Latin, the locative case is used to indicate location.
C2 adjective /ˈlæk.ti.əl/

lacteal

Meaning
Relating to or resembling milk; conveying chyle or milky fluid.
Example
The lacteal vessels in the small intestine absorb dietary fats.
C2 noun /ˌlæs.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

laceration

Meaning
a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh
Example
He needed stitches for a laceration on his leg.
C2 noun /ˌlɪt.əˈrɑː.ti/

literati

Meaning
well-educated, literary, or scholarly people
Example
The event was attended by poets, critics, and other members of the literati.
C2 adverb/adjective /lɪˈɡɑːtoʊ/

legato

Meaning
In music, played or sung smoothly and connectedly.
Example
The pianist played the passage legato, with each note flowing into the next.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ˈpepər/

Long pepper

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.
C2 noun /liːən/

lien

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.
C2 verb /loʊp/

lope

Meaning
to run or move with a long, bounding stride
Example
The horse loped gracefully across the field.
C2 noun /ˈlɒdʒ.mənt/

lodgment

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.
C2 adjective /ˈlaɪbələs/

libelous

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.
C2 noun /ˈluː.mən/

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.
C2 verb /læmˈbæst/

lambast

Meaning
To criticize harshly or to beat severely.
Example
The coach lambasted the team for their poor performance.
C2 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriənt/

luxuriant

Meaning
abundant in growth or richly abundant
Example
The luxuriant forest was teeming with life.
C2 noun /ˈlɪmərɪk/

limerick

Meaning
a humorous five-line poem with a specific rhythm and rhyme scheme (AABBA).
Example
She recited a funny limerick at the party.
C2 adjective ˌlæb.əˈrɪn.θaɪn

labyrinthine

Meaning
Like a labyrinth; complicated and confusing; having many interconnected paths or passages.
Example
The old city streets were labyrinthine.
C2 noun /ˈlɔːŋ.ɡən/

Longan

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.
C2 adjective /ˈliːənaɪn/

leonine

Meaning
Of or resembling a lion.
Example
His leonine hair made him stand out in the crowd.
C2 adjective /ˈlæm.ən.tə.bəl/

lamentable

Meaning
deserving to be criticized or regretted; unfortunate
Example
The team’s lamentable performance disappointed their fans.
C2 noun /ˈlaɪər/

lier

Meaning
a person who tells lies; an alternative spelling of liar
Example
No one trusted him because he was known as a habitual lier.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfər/

lexicographer

Meaning
A person who compiles, writes, or edits dictionaries.
Example
The lexicographer spent years compiling the dictionary.
C2 verb /lʌɡ/

lug

Meaning
to carry or drag something heavy or cumbersome with effort
Example
He had to lug the suitcase up three flights of stairs.
C2 noun /lɪˈnoʊ.li.əm/

linoleum

Meaning
a durable, washable floor covering made from solidified linseed oil, wood flour, or cork dust on a canvas backing
Example
They decided to cover the kitchen floor with linoleum.
C2 verb /ˈlɔɪtər/

loiter

Meaning
To stand or wait around idly without apparent purpose.
Example
The teenagers were told not to loiter outside the shop.
C2 noun /læŋ'ɡʊər/

Langoor

Meaning
a long-tailed monkey found in Asia, especially India and Southeast Asia
Example
The langoor was sitting on the tree branch eating fruits.
C2 verb /ˈlæs.ə.reɪt/

lacerate

Meaning
to tear or cut deeply in the skin or flesh
Example
The broken glass lacerated his hand.
C2 noun (plural) /ˈlɪniəmənts/

lineaments

Meaning
The features or distinctive characteristics of the face or body.
Example
The lineaments of his face were sharp and stern.
C2 adjective /ˈlæmbənt/

lambent

Meaning
glowing or flickering softly; having a gentle radiance
Example
The lambent light of the candle filled the room with warmth.
C2 noun /lɪnt/

lint

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.
C2 noun /lɔːˈdeɪʃən/

laudation

Meaning
The act of praising or expressing approval.
Example
The poet received much laudation for his moving verses.
C2 noun/adjective /ˈlæpɪˌdɛri/

lapidary

Meaning
As noun: a person who cuts, polishes, or engraves precious stones; As adjective: relating to such work.
Example
The museum displayed lapidary tools used in ancient times.
C2 noun /ˈlɔːndrəs/

laundress

Meaning
A woman whose job is washing clothes and linens.
Example
The laundress delivered the freshly cleaned clothes to the household.
C2 adjective /loʊˈkweɪʃəs/

loquacious

Meaning
tending to talk a great deal; very talkative
Example
The loquacious child entertained everyone with endless stories.
C2 noun /ˈluːkər/

lucre

Meaning
money, especially when regarded as sordid or gained dishonorably
Example
He was motivated more by lucre than by duty.
C2 noun /ˈlæn.sɪt/

lancet

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.
C2 verb /læmˈpuːn/

lampoon

Meaning
to publicly criticize or ridicule someone or something with humor, irony, or sarcasm
Example
The cartoonist lampooned the politician for his contradictory statements.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪsəm/

lissome

Meaning
Thin, supple, and graceful in movement.
Example
The dancer moved with a lissome elegance.
C2 noun /ˈlæɡ.ərd/

Laggard

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.
C2 noun /ˌlɪk.wəˈfeɪ.ʃənt/

liquefacient

Meaning
a substance that causes something to become liquid
Example
The chemist explained how the liquefacient worked in the experiment.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪsɪt/

licit

Meaning
Permitted by law or by rules; legal.
Example
The trade of certain goods is licit under international law.
C2 noun /liː/

lea

Meaning
An open area of grassy or arable land; a meadow.
Example
The cottage was surrounded by a quiet lea.
C2 noun /lɔːŋ ɡɔːrd/

Long gourd

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.
C2 noun /ˈlɪnəmənt/

liniment

Meaning
A liquid or lotion applied to the skin to relieve pain or stiffness.
Example
He rubbed liniment on his sore muscles after the workout.
C2 noun /loʊd/

lode

Meaning
A rich source of something, often a vein of valuable metal in the earth.
Example
The miners discovered a rich lode of silver.
C2 noun /lɑːrˈʒes/

largess

Meaning
Generosity in giving gifts or money.
Example
The foundation survived thanks to the largess of wealthy donors.
C2 noun /ˈlɛtʃ.əri/

lechery

Meaning
excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness
Example
The novel depicted the lechery of corrupt nobles.
C2 adjective /laɪˈsɛnʃəs/

licentious

Meaning
Lacking moral restraint; disregarding accepted rules of conduct.
Example
The novel was criticized for its licentious themes.
C2 noun /leɪð/

lathe

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.
C2 noun /ˈlev.ɪ.ti/

Levity

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.
C2 noun /lɪˈvaɪəθən/

leviathan

Meaning
a huge sea monster or something very large and powerful.
Example
The ship looked like a leviathan on the horizon.
C2 adjective /ˈluːpi/

loopy

Meaning
crazy, silly, or eccentric
Example
After working all night, he felt a little loopy.
C2 noun /ˈlætɪs/

lattice

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.
C2 noun /laʊs/

Louse

Meaning
a small insect that lives on the hair or skin of people or animals
Example
The child had a louse in his hair.
C2 noun /laɪər/

lyre

Meaning
a stringed musical instrument of ancient Greece
Example
The musician played a melody on the lyre.
C2 noun /lɒŋ ˈwɪskəd ˈkætfɪʃ/

Long whiskered catfish

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.
C2 noun /ˈlɔːrdlɪŋ/

lordling

Meaning
A young or petty lord; someone of minor nobility.
Example
The arrogant lordling demanded respect despite his lack of experience.
C2 noun /luːˈbrɪsɪti/

lubricity

Meaning
the quality of being slippery or smooth; sometimes also refers to lewdness
Example
The lubricity of the surface made it difficult to walk on.
C2 noun /ləˈdʒɪʃən/

logician

Meaning
A person skilled in logic and reasoning.
Example
Aristotle is considered one of the greatest logicians in history.
C2 noun /ˈlaɪtoʊtiːz/

litotes

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.
C2 verb ˈlev.ɪ.teɪ.tɪŋ

levitating

Meaning
Rising and hovering in the air, especially as a result of supernatural or magical power.
Example
The levitating structure is an engineering marvel.
C2 noun /ˈlɑːrsəni/

larceny

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.
C2 noun /ˈlɪŋ.ɡoʊ/

lingo

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.
C2 adjective /lɪˈbɪdənəs/

libidinous

Meaning
Showing excessive sexual drive; lustful.
Example
The play was criticized for its libidinous characters.
C2 noun /ˈliːdʒənəri/

legionary

Meaning
a soldier in the Roman army
Example
Each legionary carried a shield and a short sword.
C2 noun /ˌlɛdʒərdəˈmeɪn/

legerdemain

Meaning
skillful use of one's hands when performing tricks; deception or trickery
Example
The magician's legerdemain left the audience amazed.
C2 adjective /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/

lackadaisical

Meaning
lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination; careless or lazy
Example
His lackadaisical attitude toward work annoyed his boss.
C2 noun /lɒx/ or /lɒk/

lough

Meaning
An Irish or Scottish word for a lake or sea inlet.
Example
The fishermen lived by the lough for generations.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪɡ.ni.əs/

ligneous

Meaning
having the texture or appearance of wood; woody
Example
The ligneous stem supported the heavy flowers.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪst/

liberalist

Meaning
a person who supports liberal ideas and principles
Example
He is a well-known liberalist advocating human rights.
C2 noun /ˈlæŋɡər/

languor

Meaning
A state of tiredness, inertia, or dreamy relaxation.
Example
The hot afternoon filled her with languor.
C2 noun /ˈliː.vɪŋz/

Leavings

Meaning
things that have been left behind or remain; remnants or scraps
Example
The leavings from dinner were given to the dog.
C2 /laɪð/

lithe

Meaning
thin, supple, and graceful in movement
Example
The lithe dancer captivated the audience with her graceful spins.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərˌtiːn/

libertine

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.
C2 adjective /ˈlɔːdəˌtɔːri/

laudatory

Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration.
Example
She wrote a laudatory review of the new book.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪmbər/

limber

Meaning
Flexible and agile in body or movement.
Example
Dancers need to stay limber to perform well.
C2 noun /ˈlɪθəˌɡræf/

lithograph

Meaning
a print made by lithography, often artistic
Example
The museum displayed a rare lithograph from the 19th century.
C2 phrase /lɛt ðɛm ˈθɪə.ri/

let them theory

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.
C2 adjective /ˈluːsənt/

lucent

Meaning
shining or glowing with light
Example
The lucent stars brightened the night sky.
C2 verb /ˈlɪk.wɪ.faɪ/

liquefy

Meaning
to make or become liquid
Example
The heat will liquefy the butter in a few minutes.