litotes
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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 /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.
B2 verb /ˈlaɪɪŋ/

lying

Meaning
the act of not telling the truth
Example
He was caught lying about his grades.
C1 noun /ˈlʊkaʊt/

lookout

Meaning
A place for watching; a person keeping watch.
Example
The guard kept a lookout for suspicious activity.
C1 adjective /læks/

lax

Meaning
Not strict, severe, or careful; negligent or careless.
Example
The security at the airport was surprisingly lax.
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 noun /ˈlæŋɡər/

languor

Meaning
A state of tiredness, inertia, or dreamy relaxation.
Example
The hot afternoon filled her with languor.
A1 verb /lɪv/

live

Meaning
to have life; to reside in a particular place; to exist
Example
They live in a beautiful house by the lake.
A2 noun /laɪt bʌlb/

Light bulb

Meaning
a glass or plastic container that produces light when electricity passes through it
Example
The light bulb in the kitchen needs to be replaced.
C1 verb /ˈlɛdʒɪsˌleɪt/

legislate

Meaning
to make or enact laws
Example
The government plans to legislate new safety standards.
B2 noun /lʌŋ/

Lung

Meaning
either of the two organs in the chest that you use for breathing
Example
Smoking can cause serious damage to your lungs.
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.
B2 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs/

luxurious

Meaning
extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable, often involving great expense
Example
They stayed in a luxurious hotel during their vacation.
A1 adjective/adverb /lɛs/

less

Meaning
A smaller amount; not as much.
Example
She spends less money than her brother.
B2 noun ˈlɪv.ɪŋ ˈstæn.dədz

living standards

Meaning
The degree of wealth and material comfort available to a person or community; quality of life.
Example
High living standards improve satisfaction.
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.
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 /ˈluː.nə.si/

lunacy

Meaning
Extreme foolishness or madness; insanity.
Example
It was sheer lunacy to go hiking in the storm.
B2 noun /ˈlep.ərd/

Leopard

Meaning
a large wild cat with yellow fur and black spots
Example
The leopard climbed the tree to rest in the shade.
A2 noun /ˈlaɪ.ən/

Lion

Meaning
a large tawny-colored cat that lives in prides, found in Africa and northwestern India
Example
The lion roared loudly in the savanna.
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.
A2 noun /læb/

lab

Meaning
a place equipped for scientific experiments, research, or teaching
Example
The students conducted an experiment in the chemistry lab.
B2 noun /ˈlaɪ.səns/

Licence

Meaning
a permit from an authority to own or use something, do a particular thing, or carry on a trade
Example
You need a driving licence to operate a car.
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 /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.
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.
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 /ˈlɪŋ.ɡwə/

lingua

Meaning
A language, especially one used for communication among people.
Example
English has become a global lingua for business and science.
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.
B2 noun /leɪs/

Lace

Meaning
a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern; a cord or string for fastening
Example
She wore a beautiful dress decorated with intricate lace patterns.
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 /luːm/

Loom

Meaning
a machine for weaving cloth; to appear threatening or menacing
Example
The weaver worked at the loom to create beautiful fabrics.
C1 noun /ˈloʊ.fər/

Loafer

Meaning
a person who avoids work or effort; an idler
Example
Don't be a loafer, help us with the work.
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.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈluː.nər/

Lunar

Meaning
relating to the moon; of or concerning the moon
Example
The lunar eclipse was visible last night.
C1 adjective /ˈliː.ni.ənt/

Lenient

Meaning
tolerant; forgiving; merciful; not strict in punishment or judgment
Example
The teacher was lenient with students who submitted their homework late.
C1 adjective /ˈlɔː.fəl/

Lawful

Meaning
legal; legitimate; valid; just
Example
The judge confirmed that their actions were lawful and proper.
C2 adjective /ˌlɛvəlˈhɛdɪd/

levelheaded

Meaning
calm and sensible; showing good judgment.
Example
She remained levelheaded during the crisis.
A1 verb /laɪk/

like

Meaning
to enjoy or find something pleasant; to have a preference for
Example
I like reading books in my free time.
B2 noun /ˈlænd.ɪŋ/

Landing

Meaning
the action of coming to rest on the ground or another surface; a level area at the top of a staircase
Example
The pilot made a smooth landing despite the stormy weather conditions.
C1 noun /lɪˈɡæl.ə.ti/

Legality

Meaning
the quality or state of being legal; accordance with the law
Example
The lawyer questioned the legality of the contract.
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.
C1 noun /ˈlæt.ɪ.tuːd/

Latitude

Meaning
the angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator; freedom to act or think
Example
The GPS device showed our exact latitude and longitude coordinates on the map.
C1 noun /lɔnˈdʒɛvəti/

longevity

Meaning
Long life or long existence of something.
Example
Good habits contribute to health and longevity.
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.
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.
C1 noun /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊʃən/

locomotion

Meaning
movement or the ability to move from one place to another
Example
Walking is the most common form of human locomotion.
C1 noun/adjective /ˈluː.nə.tɪk/

lunatic

Meaning
A person who is insane or acting in a foolish or reckless way; also used as an adjective meaning insane.
Example
The driver was driving like a lunatic on the highway.
C2 adjective /ləˈsɪviəs/

lascivious

Meaning
showing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
Example
The lascivious remarks made everyone uncomfortable.
A2 adjective /liːst/

Least

Meaning
smallest in amount or degree; minimal
Example
This is the least expensive option available.
B1 noun ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ æps

language apps

Meaning
Mobile or computer applications designed to help users learn new languages through interactive lessons and exercises.
Example
Language apps make learning easier.
C2 /laɪð/

lithe

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

loopy

Meaning
crazy, silly, or eccentric
Example
After working all night, he felt a little loopy.
C1 noun /ˈliːvˌteɪ.kɪŋ/

leave-taking

Meaning
an act of saying goodbye; farewell
Example
His leave-taking from his friends was emotional.
B2 noun /lɔːntʃ/

Launch

Meaning
a large motorboat or a boat used to transport people and goods
Example
We took a launch to cross the river.
C2 noun /lɑːrˈʒes/

largess

Meaning
Generosity in giving gifts or money.
Example
The foundation survived thanks to the largess of wealthy donors.
A2 noun /ˈlɜrnɪŋ/

learning

Meaning
The process of gaining knowledge or skills through study or experience.
Example
Learning a new language can be exciting.
C2 noun /lænˈtɑː.nə/

Lantana

Meaning
a tropical flowering plant with clusters of small colorful flowers
Example
The lantana flowers attract butterflies to the garden.
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.
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.
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 adjective /ˈlɪsəm/

lissome

Meaning
Thin, supple, and graceful in movement.
Example
The dancer moved with a lissome elegance.
B2 noun ləˈdʒɪs.tɪks

Logistics

Meaning
The detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies.
Example
Logistics ensures timely delivery.
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.
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 /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 ˈluː.sɪd

lucid

Meaning
Clear and easily understandable thoughts or explanations.
Example
His explanation was so lucid that everyone understood it.
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.
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.
A2 adjective/adverb /laʊd/

loud

Meaning
Producing or capable of producing much noise.
Example
The music was too loud to concentrate.
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.
B1 noun

Loneliness

A1 noun /ˈlet.ər/

Letter

Meaning
a character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech; a written message, typically sent in an envelope
Example
She wrote a letter to her grandmother.
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.
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 noun /ˈliːʒən/

lesion

Meaning
An area of damage or abnormal change in the tissue of an organism, often caused by injury or disease.
Example
The doctor examined the skin lesion carefully.
C1 verb, adjective, noun /lɪmp/

limp

Meaning
to walk with difficulty, often due to injury or weakness; lacking strength or firmness.
Example
He limped after injuring his ankle.
C1 adjective /ˈliːf.ləs/

Leafless

Meaning
without leaves; bare
Example
The leafless trees looked bare in winter.
B1 verb /lend/

lend

Meaning
to give temporarily; to allow someone to use something
Example
Can you lend me your pen?
B2 noun ˈlɒŋ tɜːm ˈmɛm.ər.i

Long-term memory

Meaning
Such memory that remains stored in the brain for a long time
Example
Repeated practice helps transfer information into long-term memory.
B2 noun /laɪm/

Lime

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

lagoon

Meaning
A shallow body of water separated from the sea by sandbars or reefs.
Example
We swam in the calm waters of the lagoon.
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 noun /ˌluːkjʊˈbreɪʃən/

lucubration

Meaning
study or meditation, especially at night
Example
His novel was the result of long lucubration.
A2 adjective /ˈlʌv.li/

Lovely

Meaning
beautiful; charming; delightful; attractive
Example
What a lovely day for a picnic!
B2 noun /ˈlænd.lɔːrd/

Landlord

Meaning
a man who rents out land, a building, or accommodation; a male property owner
Example
The landlord agreed to fix the broken heating system before winter arrived.
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.
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.
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.
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 /ˈlɛktʃərər/

lecturer

Meaning
a person who gives lectures, especially at a college or university
Example
The lecturer explained the theory with clear examples.
B2 adjective /leɪm/

Lame

Meaning
unable to walk normally because of an injury or illness affecting the leg or foot; weak and unconvincing
Example
The injured horse was lame and couldn't walk properly.
B2 adverb /ˈliːɡəli/

legally

Meaning
in a way that is allowed by law
Example
He is legally responsible for his actions.
B2 adjective /ˈlaɪf.lɒŋ/

lifelong

Meaning
Lasting or existing for the whole of a person's life.
Example
They remained lifelong friends.
C2 noun /ˈlænjæp/

lagniappe

Meaning
A small gift or bonus given by a seller to a customer.
Example
The shopkeeper offered a piece of candy as a lagniappe.
C1 adjective /ˈlæv.ɪʃ/

Lavish

Meaning
expensive; elaborate; extravagant; generous
Example
The wedding was a lavish celebration with hundreds of guests.
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.
B1 noun /ˈlæftər/

laughter

Meaning
the act or sound of laughing
Example
The room was filled with laughter.
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 adjective ləˈθɑːrdʒɪk

lethargic

Meaning
Being inactive due to lack of physical or mental energy
Example
After a heavy meal, he felt lethargic and sleepy.
B1 noun /ˈleɪ.ər/

Layer

Meaning
a sheet, quantity, or thickness of material, typically one of several, covering a surface or body
Example
The cake has three layers of chocolate.
A2 adjective /ˈloʊɪst/

lowest

Meaning
Of the smallest amount, extent, or intensity; minimal.
Example
The unemployment rate is at its lowest in 15 years.
A1 adjective /lɑːrdʒ/

Large

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

liberalist

Meaning
a person who supports liberal ideas and principles
Example
He is a well-known liberalist advocating human rights.
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.
C1 adjective /ˌlaɪtˈhɑːrtɪd/

light-hearted

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

lull

Meaning
to soothe or calm; to cause to sleep or rest
Example
The gentle music lulled the baby to sleep.
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.
A1 noun ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ

language

Meaning
A method of communication used by humans, consisting of spoken and written words structured in specific ways.
Example
Learning a new language can be exciting.
C1 noun lɪˈkwɪd.ə.ti

liquidity

Meaning
The availability of liquid assets to a market or company; the ability to convert assets into cash quickly.
Example
Maintaining liquidity is crucial for financial stability.
A2 noun /ˈloʊ.kəl/

Local

Meaning
belonging or relating to a particular area or neighborhood; a person living in a particular area
Example
The local people are very friendly.
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.
B2 noun /ˈliːf.lət/

Leaflet

Meaning
a printed sheet of paper containing information or advertising and usually distributed free
Example
She handed out leaflets about the environmental campaign.
B2 noun /ˈleɪ.zi.nəs/

Laziness

Meaning
the quality of being unwilling to work or use energy; idleness
Example
His laziness prevented him from achieving his goals.
C1 noun /ˌlɛ.seɪ ˈfɛər/

laissez-faire

Meaning
An economic policy where government does not intervene in business affairs.
Example
Laissez-faire policies encourage private enterprise.
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 /laɪˈsɛnʃəs/

licentious

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