leverage
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B2 noun ˈlɛvərɪdʒ

leverage

Meaning
The use of borrowed capital or resources to increase the potential return of an investment; using something to maximum advantage.
Example
Leverage amplifies your efforts and scales your work.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfi/

lexicography

Meaning
The art or practice of compiling dictionaries.
Example
Lexicography requires both linguistic and cultural knowledge.
C1 noun ˌlaɪ.əˈbɪl.ə.ti

liability

Meaning
The state of being responsible for something, especially by law; a debt or financial obligation.
Example
The company's liabilities exceeded its assets.
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 /ˈlɪk.wɪ.faɪ/

liquefy

Meaning
to make or become liquid
Example
The heat will liquefy the butter in a few minutes.
B2 adjective /ˈlɛdʒɪslətɪv/

legislative

Meaning
relating to the making of laws
Example
The legislative body passed the new tax bill.
B2 adjective /ˈlækɪŋ/

lacking

Meaning
not having enough of something; missing
Example
His report was lacking in detail.
C2 noun /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəns/

luxuriance

Meaning
abundant growth, richness, or elegance
Example
The garden was filled with the luxuriance of tropical plants.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌlaɪtˈhɑːrtɪd/

light-hearted

Meaning
cheerful, carefree, and not serious
Example
She gave a light-hearted speech at the party.
C1 noun /læps/

Lapse

Meaning
a temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgment; the termination of a right or privilege
Example
There was a brief lapse in security that allowed the intruder to enter the building.
C2 noun /ˈlændˌhoʊl.dər/

landholder

Meaning
a person who owns land, especially in large amounts
Example
The landholder leased part of his property to local farmers.
C2 noun /ˈlɪniəmənt/

lineament

Meaning
A distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face.
Example
Her delicate lineaments revealed her noble birth.
B2 noun /lɪm/

limb

Meaning
an arm or leg of a person or animal; a large branch of a tree
Example
He broke a limb while climbing the tree.
C1 adjective /ˈluː.mɪ.nəs/

Luminous

Meaning
bright; shining; emitting light; radiant
Example
The luminous stars filled the dark night sky.
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.
B2 noun /ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃən/

legislation

Meaning
laws considered collectively, or the act of making laws
Example
The government passed new legislation to protect the environment.
C1 noun /liˈeɪzɒn/

liaison

Meaning
communication or cooperation between people or groups for a smooth working relationship
Example
She works as a liaison between the company and its clients.
C1 verb /lætʃ/

latch

Meaning
to fasten or close something with a latch
Example
She latched the door before leaving the house.
A1 verb /lʊk/

look

Meaning
to direct your eyes to see something; to appear or seem
Example
Look at the beautiful sunset in the sky.
C1 verb, noun /lɜːrtʃ/

lurch

Meaning
to make an abrupt, unsteady, or uncontrolled movement; a sudden movement or stagger
Example
The bus lurched forward as the driver hit the brakes.
A2 verb /liːd/

lead

Meaning
To guide or be in charge; to show the way.
Example
He led the team to victory.
B1 noun /lɔk/

Lock

Meaning
a mechanism for keeping a door, lid, etc., fastened, typically operated only by a key of a particular form
Example
Make sure you lock the door before leaving.
C2 adjective /læŋk/

lank

Meaning
Tall, thin, and often awkward in appearance.
Example
The lank teenager towered over his classmates.
C2 adjective /ˈlæm.ən.tə.bəl/

lamentable

Meaning
deserving to be criticized or regretted; unfortunate
Example
The team’s lamentable performance disappointed their fans.
A1 noun /lænd/

Land

Meaning
the part of the earth's surface that is not covered by water; an area of ground, soil, or earth
Example
The farmer worked hard to cultivate his land and grow healthy crops.
B2 noun, verb /laʊndʒ/

lounge

Meaning
A public room for relaxing; or to sit, lie, or stand in a relaxed way.
Example
They lounged on the sofa after dinner.
C1 noun /ˈleɪ.dəl/

Ladle

Meaning
a large deep spoon with a long handle, used for serving soup or other liquids
Example
Use the ladle to serve the hot soup into bowls.
C1 noun /lɪˈkjʊər/

liqueur

Meaning
A strong, sweet alcoholic drink flavored with fruits, herbs, or spices.
Example
She served a small glass of cherry liqueur after dinner.
A1 noun /laɪt/

Light

Meaning
the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength
Example
Turn on the light, it's getting dark.
B2 noun /ˈlɪn.ən/

linen

Meaning
A strong cloth made from the fibers of the flax plant, or items made from this cloth such as sheets or clothing.
Example
She bought new linen curtains for the living room.
C1 verb /ˈlæmɪˌneɪt/

laminate

Meaning
to cover or enclose something with a protective layer, usually plastic
Example
She laminated her important documents to protect them from damage.
B2 noun /laɪm/

Lime

Meaning
a small green citrus fruit with acidic juice
Example
Add a slice of lime to your drink.
C1 verb, noun /læɡ/

lag

Meaning
To fall behind in movement, progress, or development; a delay or period of falling behind.
Example
The old computer tends to lag when running new software.
C2 noun /ˈlɪθəˌɡræf/

lithograph

Meaning
a print made by lithography, often artistic
Example
The museum displayed a rare lithograph from the 19th century.
C1 verb /ˈlɪbəreɪt/

liberate

Meaning
to set free from imprisonment, oppression, or restraint
Example
The army liberated the city from enemy control.
A1 adjective, noun, adverb, verb (past tense of leave) /lɛft/

left

Meaning
on or towards the side of the body that is to the west when facing north
Example
He turned left at the intersection.
B1 noun /ˈlaɪf.staɪl/

lifestyle

Meaning
The way in which a person or group lives, including habits, attitudes, and possessions.
Example
A healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise and a balanced diet.
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.
C1 noun /læʃ/

Lash

Meaning
an eyelash; a sharp blow with a whip or rope; to strike forcefully
Example
She carefully applied mascara to make her lashes look longer and darker.
B1 noun /ˈlʌk.ʃər.i/

Luxury

Meaning
the state of great comfort and extravagant living; an inessential, desirable item that is expensive or difficult to obtain
Example
They enjoyed the luxury of a five-star hotel.
A2 adjective /liːst/

Least

Meaning
smallest in amount or degree; minimal
Example
This is the least expensive option available.
B2 noun /ˈlænd.fɪl/

landfill

Meaning
a site where waste material is buried under the ground
Example
The city built a new landfill to manage its growing waste problem.
A2 noun /ˈlem.ən/

Lemon

Meaning
a yellow citrus fruit with acidic juice
Example
She squeezed a lemon into her tea.
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.
C1 adverb /ˈleŋθ.waɪz/

Lengthwise

Meaning
in the direction of the length; along the longest dimension
Example
Fold the paper lengthwise to make it easier to carry.
C1 noun /luː/

lieu

Meaning
Instead of; in place of.
Example
He gave money in lieu of flowers.
C2 noun /ˈlæŋɡər/

languor

Meaning
A state of tiredness, inertia, or dreamy relaxation.
Example
The hot afternoon filled her with languor.
B2 noun ləˈdʒɪs.tɪks

Logistics

Meaning
The detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies.
Example
Logistics ensures timely delivery.
B2 adjective /ˈlʌv.ə.bəl/

Lovable

Meaning
deserving of love; endearing; adorable
Example
The puppy was so lovable that everyone wanted to adopt it.
C1 phrase lɪˈdʒɪt.ɪ.mət sɛlf dɪˈfens

legitimate self-defense

Meaning
Lawful protection of oneself from harm or attack.
Example
The country claimed it was legitimate self-defense.
C2 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪst/

liberalist

Meaning
a person who supports liberal ideas and principles
Example
He is a well-known liberalist advocating human rights.
B2 adjective /ˈlʌvəbl̩/

loveable

Meaning
easy to love; endearing or charming
Example
The puppy was so loveable that everyone wanted to hold it.
C1 adjective /ˈluːdɪkrəs/

ludicrous

Meaning
so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing
Example
It is ludicrous to think the Earth is flat.
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.
B2 noun /ˈledʒ.ənd/

Legend

Meaning
a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated; an extremely famous or notorious person
Example
The legend of King Arthur has inspired many books.
B1 adverb /ˈleɪt.li/

Lately

Meaning
recently; in the recent past; not long ago
Example
I haven't seen him lately, but I heard he got a new job.
B2 adjective /ˈliː.fi/

Leafy

Meaning
having many leaves; covered with leaves
Example
The leafy green vegetables are very nutritious.
C1 noun /ˈledʒ.ər/

Ledger

Meaning
a book or other collection of financial accounts of a particular type
Example
The accountant updated the company ledger daily.
B1 noun /ˈlɪm.ɪt/

Limit

Meaning
a point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass; the greatest amount allowed
Example
There is a speed limit on this road.
A2 noun /lɪp/

Lip

Meaning
either of the two soft parts that form the edge of the mouth
Example
She applied lipstick to her lips before the party.
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 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.
C1 verb ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪʃ

languish

Meaning
To remain in a state of neglect or decline for a long time without improvement.
Example
The project began to languish due to a lack of funding.
B1 adjective /ˈlɪmɪtɪd/

limited

Meaning
Restricted in size, amount, or extent; not great in number or ability.
Example
Tickets for the concert are limited.
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.
A2 noun /læmp/

Lamp

Meaning
a device for giving light, either one using electricity or burning gas or oil
Example
She turned on the reading lamp to illuminate her book.
C1 adjective ləˈθɑːrdʒɪk

lethargic

Meaning
Being inactive due to lack of physical or mental energy
Example
After a heavy meal, he felt lethargic and sleepy.
A1 verb /luːz/

lose

Meaning
to be unable to find something; to fail to win; to misplace
Example
I hope I don't lose my keys again.
A2 noun /loʊˈkeɪʃən/

location

Meaning
a particular place or position
Example
This cafe is in a beautiful location near the lake.
C2 noun /lɔːˈdeɪʃən/

laudation

Meaning
The act of praising or expressing approval.
Example
The poet received much laudation for his moving verses.
C1 adjective liːst prɪˈpeərd

least prepared

Meaning
Having the minimum level of readiness or equipment to handle a situation.
Example
Bangladesh is among the least prepared for climate adaptation.
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 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 noun/verb /læˈsuː/

lasso

Meaning
a rope with a loop used to catch animals; to catch with such a rope
Example
The cowboy lassoed the horse quickly.
C2 noun/verb /ˈlɛv.ən/

leaven

Meaning
a substance, typically yeast, that causes dough to rise; to permeate and modify
Example
A little yeast will leaven the bread dough.
C2 noun /liː/

lea

Meaning
An open area of grassy or arable land; a meadow.
Example
The cottage was surrounded by a quiet lea.
B2 verb /liːp/

leap

Meaning
to jump high or far; to move quickly with large steps
Example
The cat leaped onto the table.
C1 noun /lʌmp/

Lump

Meaning
a compact mass of a substance, especially one without a definite or regular shape
Example
She found a lump of sugar in the bowl.
C2 noun /luːn/

lune

Meaning
A crescent-shaped figure formed by two intersecting arcs; also means 'moon' in French.
Example
The mathematician studied the properties of the lune.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfər/

lexicographer

Meaning
A person who compiles, writes, or edits dictionaries.
Example
The lexicographer spent years compiling the dictionary.
A2 verb /lɪft/

lift

Meaning
to raise or move upward; to pick up
Example
He lifted the heavy box with effort.
C1 adjective /loʊθ/

loath

Meaning
reluctant or unwilling to do something
Example
She was loath to admit her mistake in front of everyone.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈlɛzbiən/

lesbian

Meaning
a woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to other women
Example
She is a proud lesbian and advocates for equal rights.
C1 noun /lɪˈbiːdoʊ/

libido

Meaning
Sexual desire or drive.
Example
Stress can sometimes lower a person's libido.
A2 noun /leɪk/

Lake

Meaning
a large body of water completely surrounded by land
Example
The peaceful lake reflected the mountains in its calm waters.
C1 verb /ˈlɪtɪˌɡeɪt/

litigate

Meaning
to engage in legal proceedings or take a dispute to court
Example
The company decided to litigate the contract dispute.
B2 noun /ˈliːtər/

litre

Meaning
a metric unit of volume equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters; commonly used to measure liquids
Example
She bought a litre of milk from the shop.
B1 noun /ˈleɪ.bəl/

Label

Meaning
a small piece of paper or material attached to something to identify or describe it
Example
Please read the label carefully before taking any medication.
B2 adverb /ˈliːɡəli/

legally

Meaning
in a way that is allowed by law
Example
He is legally responsible for his actions.
C1 noun ˈlaɪv.li.hʊd

livelihood

Meaning
A means of securing the necessities of life; a way of making a living.
Example
Fishing is the primary livelihood of coastal communities.
B2 verb /ˈlaɪtən/

lighten

Meaning
to make something brighter or less dark; to make something less heavy or serious
Example
A joke can lighten the mood during a tense meeting.
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.
C1 noun /ˈlɔː.ləs.nəs/

Lawlessness

Meaning
absence of law and order; a state where laws do not exist or are not enforced
Example
The city descended into lawlessness after the government collapsed.
B1 adjective ˈliː.ɡəl

legal

Meaning
Permitted by law; relating to the law.
Example
Legal systems ensure justice.
B1 noun /ˈlɪk.wɪd/

Liquid

Meaning
a substance that flows freely but is of constant volume, having a consistency like that of water or oil
Example
Water is a liquid at room temperature.
C2 adjective /ˈluː.ni/

Loony

Meaning
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
Example
His loony behavior made everyone laugh.
C1 noun /ˈlaɪm.laɪt/

Limelight

Meaning
the focus of public attention; a bright light produced by heating a cylinder of lime
Example
The celebrity enjoyed being in the limelight.
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.
C1 adjective ˈluː.sɪd

lucid

Meaning
Clear and easily understandable thoughts or explanations.
Example
His explanation was so lucid that everyone understood it.
C1 noun /liːs/

Lease

Meaning
a contract by which one party conveys land, property, services, etc. to another for a specified time, usually in return for a periodic payment
Example
They signed a two-year lease for the apartment.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪsəm/

lissome

Meaning
Thin, supple, and graceful in movement.
Example
The dancer moved with a lissome elegance.
C1 noun /ˈlɪməˌziːn/

limousine

Meaning
a large, luxurious car driven by a chauffeur.
Example
The bride arrived in a white limousine.
C2 adjective /ˌlɛvəlˈhɛdɪd/

levelheaded

Meaning
calm and sensible; showing good judgment.
Example
She remained levelheaded during the crisis.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈlaɪ.ə.bəl/

Liable

Meaning
legally responsible; accountable; obligated
Example
The company is liable for any damages caused by their defective products.
C2 adjective /ˌluː.mɪˈnɛs.ənt/

luminescent

Meaning
Emitting light without heat, glowing softly.
Example
The luminescent watch dial was visible in the dark.
C1 verb /lʌl/

lull

Meaning
to soothe or calm; to cause to sleep or rest
Example
The gentle music lulled the baby to sleep.
B1 adverb /ˈlaɪk.li/

Likely

Meaning
probably; having a high probability of happening or being true
Example
It will likely rain tomorrow according to the weather forecast.
C1 adjective /ˈlɑːpˌsaɪdɪd/

lopsided

Meaning
with one side lower, larger, or different from the other; uneven or imbalanced
Example
The cake looked lopsided after being decorated in a hurry.
C1 noun /ˈliːdʒən/

legion

Meaning
a large group of people, especially soldiers; a great number
Example
The Roman army was divided into legions.
B1 noun /ˈlæbrətɔːri/

laboratory

Meaning
A room or building equipped for scientific experiments, research, or teaching.
Example
The students conducted the experiment in the chemistry laboratory.
A1 adjective/adverb /leɪt/

late

Meaning
arriving, happening, or done after the expected time
Example
He arrived late to the meeting.
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.
B2 noun /lɔːɡ/

Log

Meaning
a piece of a dead or felled tree trunk or branch, especially one stripped of bark
Example
They sat on a log by the campfire.
C1 noun /ˈliːvˌteɪ.kɪŋ/

leave-taking

Meaning
an act of saying goodbye; farewell
Example
His leave-taking from his friends was emotional.
B2 adjective; verb (past and past participle) /lɜːrnd/

learned

Meaning
having acquired much knowledge through study; gained knowledge or skill through experience or teaching
Example
She is a learned scholar with deep knowledge of history.
B2 noun /ˈlɔɪəlti/

loyalty

Meaning
a strong feeling of support or allegiance
Example
His loyalty to the company earned him great respect.
C1 noun /ˈlʌɡ.ɪdʒ væn/

Luggage van

Meaning
a vehicle designed for carrying luggage and cargo
Example
The luggage van carried all the passengers' suitcases.
C1 verb /ˈlaɪ.kən/

liken

Meaning
to compare one thing to another, often in a figurative way
Example
He likened her voice to sweet music.
C1 noun /ˈlæd.i/

laddie

Meaning
A young boy or lad.
Example
The old man gave the young laddie a kind smile.