liken
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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.
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 verb /lɔːd/

laud

Meaning
To praise someone or something highly, especially in public.
Example
The critic lauded the actor's performance as a masterpiece.
C2 noun /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəns/

luxuriance

Meaning
abundant growth, richness, or elegance
Example
The garden was filled with the luxuriance of tropical plants.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪɡ.ni.əs/

ligneous

Meaning
having the texture or appearance of wood; woody
Example
The ligneous stem supported the heavy flowers.
B2 noun /ˈlɒbstər/

Lobster

Meaning
a large marine crustacean with claws and a hard shell
Example
The lobster was served with melted butter and lemon.
C2 noun /ˈlɛtʃ.əri/

lechery

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

lamentable

Meaning
deserving to be criticized or regretted; unfortunate
Example
The team’s lamentable performance disappointed their fans.
B1 noun /leɪn/

lane

Meaning
a narrow road or path, often in the countryside or for specific traffic
Example
They walked down a quiet country lane.
A2 noun /lʌk/

Luck

Meaning
success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions
Example
She had good luck with her job interview.
B2 noun /liːk/

Leak

Meaning
a hole in a container or covering through which contents escape or enter accidentally
Example
There is a leak in the water pipe.
B1 verb /loʊd/

load

Meaning
to put goods or cargo onto a vehicle; to fill something with a heavy quantity
Example
Workers load the truck with heavy boxes.
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 noun /lɑːrˈʒes/

largess

Meaning
Generosity in giving gifts or money.
Example
The foundation survived thanks to the largess of wealthy donors.
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.
B2 noun /ˈlænd.lɔːrd/

Land lord

Meaning
a person who owns property and rents it to tenants
Example
The landlord collected the monthly rent from all tenants.
B1 verb /leɪ/

lay

Meaning
to put something down in a flat position; to place carefully
Example
Please lay the book on the table.
A2 noun /leŋθ/

Length

Meaning
the measurement or extent of something from end to end; the greater of two or the greatest of three dimensions
Example
The length of the table is two meters.
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.
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.
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.
A1 adjective /lɑːrdʒ/

Large

Meaning
of considerable size, extent, or intensity; big
Example
The large building dominated the city skyline.
C2 adjective /ˈlaʊtɪʃ/

loutish

Meaning
Clumsy, rude, or aggressive in behavior.
Example
His loutish remarks offended everyone at the meeting.
B1 adjective /ˈlɪmɪtɪd/

limited

Meaning
Restricted in size, amount, or extent; not great in number or ability.
Example
Tickets for the concert are limited.
C1 verb /ˈlɔːndər/

launder

Meaning
to wash clothes, linens, etc.; or to conceal the origins of money obtained illegally
Example
She laundered all the dirty clothes on Sunday.
C1 adjective /ˈlækˌlʌstər/

lackluster

Meaning
Lacking in vitality, force, or conviction; uninspired or uninspiring.
Example
The lackluster performance disappointed the audience.
C2 noun /lɔːˈdeɪʃən/

laudation

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

loch

Meaning
a lake or sea inlet, especially in Scotland
Example
Tourists visit Loch Ness to search for the legendary monster.
C1 noun /liːtʃ/

Leech

Meaning
an aquatic or terrestrial annelid worm with suckers at both ends; metaphorically, a person who extorts profit from others
Example
The leech attached itself to his leg while swimming.
C2 verb /ˈlɛvɪteɪt/

levitate

Meaning
to rise or float in the air, usually without visible support.
Example
The magician made the table levitate during the show.
C1 adjective /ˈluː.krə.tɪv/

lucrative

Meaning
Producing a great deal of profit; highly profitable or financially rewarding.
Example
The real estate business is highly lucrative in urban areas.
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.
B2 adjective ˈlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl

logical

Meaning
Of or according to the rules of logic or formal argument.
Example
Logical circuits ensure effective computation.
C1 noun /ˈliːniənsi/

leniency

Meaning
The quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected.
Example
The judge showed leniency in his ruling.
B2 noun

Loop

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.
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.
B1 adjective /ˈlʌv.ɪŋ/

Loving

Meaning
affectionate; caring; showing love and warmth
Example
She is a loving mother who cares deeply for her children.
C2 adjective /ˈlæk.rɪ.moʊs/

lachrymose

Meaning
tearful or given to weeping; sad and mournful
Example
The movie's lachrymose ending left the audience in tears.
B1 adverb /ˈlɑːrdʒli/

largely

Meaning
to a great extent; mostly or mainly
Example
The success of the project was largely due to teamwork.
B2 adjective /ˈlaɪ.ə.bəl/

Liable

Meaning
legally responsible; accountable; obligated
Example
The company is liable for any damages caused by their defective products.
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.
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.
B1 noun /lɪd/

Lid

Meaning
a removable or hinged cover for the top of a container
Example
Please put the lid back on the jar.
B2 noun ˈlænd.mɑːk

landmark

Meaning
An object or feature of a landscape or town that is easily seen and recognized from a distance; an important stage or turning point.
Example
The space restaurant is a landmark in innovation.
C1 noun /ˈlɛɡɪŋ/

legging

Meaning
tight-fitting stretch pants, typically worn by women for exercise or casual wear
Example
She bought a new pair of black leggings for the gym.
A1 verb /let/

let

Meaning
to allow someone to do something; to give permission
Example
Please let me help you with that task.
B2 adjective /ˈlækɪŋ/

lacking

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

lave

Meaning
To wash or bathe.
Example
She laved her face with cool water.
A2 noun /lɔː/

Law

Meaning
a rule or system of rules recognized by a country or community as regulating the actions of its members
Example
Everyone must obey the law.
C1 adjective /ləˈbɔːr.i.əs/

laborious

Meaning
requiring considerable effort and time; difficult and hard-working
Example
Writing the long report was a laborious task.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈlɔːŋtaɪm/

longtime

Meaning
having existed or continued for a long time
Example
They are longtime friends who met in college.
B2 adjective /ˈlʌvəbl̩/

loveable

Meaning
easy to love; endearing or charming
Example
The puppy was so loveable that everyone wanted to hold it.
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.
C2 noun /ˈlɔɪtərər/

loiterer

Meaning
A person who lingers aimlessly in a place without purpose.
Example
The police questioned the loiterer outside the store.
B2 adjective /ˈlaɪf.lɒŋ/

lifelong

Meaning
Lasting or existing for the whole of a person's life.
Example
They remained lifelong friends.
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.
C1 noun /ˈlaɪbəl/

libel

Meaning
a published false statement that damages a person's reputation
Example
The newspaper was sued for libel after publishing false claims.
B2 adjective /ˈlɪtərəl/

literal

Meaning
taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration
Example
His comment was meant as a joke, not to be taken in a literal sense.
A2 adjective /laɪt ɡriːn/

Light green

Meaning
a pale shade of green color; not dark green
Example
She wore a light green dress to the garden party.
B2 noun ˈlɪt.ər.ə.si ˌreɪts

literacy rates

Meaning
The percentage of people in a population who can read and write; measures of educational levels in a population.
Example
Literacy rates impact socioeconomic conditions.
B2 noun /ˈlaɪ.kli.hʊd/

likelihood

Meaning
the chance or probability of something happening
Example
There is a strong likelihood of rain tomorrow.
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.
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.
B2 noun; verb /ˈlaɪnʌp/

line-up

Meaning
a group or arrangement of people or things in a line; to arrange people or things in a row or planned order
Example
The coach announced the team line-up before the match.
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.
C1 noun /læns/

Lance

Meaning
a long weapon with a sharp metal point, used by soldiers on horseback
Example
The knight charged forward with his lance ready.
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 /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 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.
C1 noun /ˈleθ.ər.dʒi/

Lethargy

Meaning
a lack of energy and enthusiasm; tiredness and inactivity
Example
The hot weather caused a feeling of lethargy.
C1 adjective /ˈljʊərɪd/

lurid

Meaning
shocking or sensational in a vivid way, often involving crime or violence
Example
The newspaper published a lurid account of the crime.
A2 noun /ˈlʌɡ.ɪdʒ/

Luggage

Meaning
suitcases or other bags in which to pack personal belongings for traveling
Example
Please check your luggage at the airport counter.
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.
A2 adjective /ˈleɪtɪst/

latest

Meaning
most recent in time; newest available
Example
She shared the latest updates with the team.
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 adjective /ˈlɪmbər/

limber

Meaning
Flexible and agile in body or movement.
Example
Dancers need to stay limber to perform well.
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.
B1 noun /ˈlɛktʃərər/

lecturer

Meaning
a person who gives lectures, especially at a college or university
Example
The lecturer explained the theory with clear examples.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈliːf.ləs/

Leafless

Meaning
without leaves; bare
Example
The leafless trees looked bare in winter.
B1 noun /ləˈbɔːr.ə.tɔːr.i/

Laboratory (Lab)

Meaning
a room or building equipped for scientific experiments, research, or teaching
Example
The scientists conducted their experiments in the well-equipped laboratory.
B2 noun /ˈlɔɪəlti/

loyalty

Meaning
a strong feeling of support or allegiance
Example
His loyalty to the company earned him great respect.
A2 noun /ˈlev.əl/

level

Meaning
A position on a real or imaginary scale of amount, quantity, extent, or quality.
Example
Pollution levels must be reduced urgently.
A1 pronoun/noun /lɒts/

lots

Meaning
A large number or amount of something.
Example
She has lots of friends in the city.
C2 noun /ˌluː.mɪˈnɛs.əns/

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.
B1 adjective /ˌlɛftˈhændɪd/

left-handed

Meaning
Using or done with the left hand; also can mean clumsy or awkward.
Example
She is left-handed and writes beautifully with her left hand.
B2 adjective /liːn/

Lean

Meaning
thin; having little fat; weak
Example
He has a lean and muscular body.
B1 noun /læm/

Lamb

Meaning
a young sheep; meat from a young sheep
Example
The little lamb followed its mother everywhere.
C1 adjective ˈleɪ.tənt

latent

Meaning
Existing but not yet developed or manifested; hidden potential.
Example
His artistic talent remained latent for years.
B2 noun /læp/

Lap

Meaning
the flat area between the waist and knees of a seated person; one circuit of a track or course
Example
The cat curled up comfortably in her lap while she read her book.
B2 noun

Longing

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.
C1 noun /ˈlɪmboʊ/

limbo

Meaning
A state of uncertainty or neglect; an intermediate or transitional state.
Example
The project was left in limbo after the funding was withdrawn.
A2 noun /liːf/

Leaf

Meaning
a flattened structure of a higher plant, typically green and blade-like, that is attached to a stem
Example
The autumn leaves are falling from the tree.
C1 adjective /ˈlɔːf.ti/

Lofty

Meaning
of great height; noble in character; elevated in style
Example
He has lofty ideals about making the world a better place.
C1 adjective /lʌʃ/

lush

Meaning
rich, abundant, and luxurious, especially referring to vegetation
Example
The valley was filled with lush green fields.
B2 adjective /ˈlɪniər/

linear

Meaning
Arranged in or extending along a straight line.
Example
The artist used linear perspective in his drawings.
B2 noun /ˈlɪstɪŋ/

listing

Meaning
a series of items or names written or printed in a specific order
Example
The listing of available jobs was updated daily.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪsəm/

lissome

Meaning
Thin, supple, and graceful in movement.
Example
The dancer moved with a lissome elegance.
B2 adjective /ˈlɛdʒɪslətɪv/

legislative

Meaning
relating to the making of laws
Example
The legislative body passed the new tax bill.
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.
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 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.
A2 phrasal verb /lʊk ˈɑːftər/

look after

Meaning
to take care of someone or something; to be responsible for someone’s well-being
Example
She looks after her younger brother while their parents are at work.
A1 adjective /ˈlɪtl/

little

Meaning
Small in size, amount, or degree.
Example
He drank a little water before going to bed.
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.
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.
C1 noun /lʌst/

Lust

Meaning
very strong sexual desire; a passionate desire for something
Example
His lust for power corrupted him completely.
A2 adjective /loʊ/

low

Meaning
Small in amount, degree, or position; not high.
Example
The river is at its lowest level in years.
B1 noun /ˈlæftər/

laughter

Meaning
the act or sound of laughing
Example
The room was filled with laughter.
B1 adverb /ˈlɪtərəli/

literally

Meaning
in a literal manner or sense; exactly
Example
He was literally running for three hours without stopping.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈlɔː.də.bəl/

laudable

Meaning
Deserving praise and admiration.
Example
Her efforts to help the poor are truly laudable.
A1 adverb /ˈleɪtər/

later

Meaning
At a time subsequent to a reference time; afterwards.
Example
We will discuss the details later.
C1 noun ˌlɪb.ər.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

liberalization

Meaning
The removal or loosening of restrictions on something, typically an economic or political system.
Example
The liberalization of trade policies attracted foreign investments.
A2 adjective /ˈlʌki/

lucky

Meaning
having good fortune or favorable circumstances
Example
She felt lucky to have such supportive friends.
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.
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.
B1 noun /ˈlek.tʃər/

Lecture

Meaning
an educational talk to an audience, especially to students in a university or college
Example
The professor gave an interesting lecture on history.