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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 /ˈluː.ni/

Loony

Meaning
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
Example
His loony behavior made everyone laugh.
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 verb /ˈluːbrɪkeɪt/

lubricate

Meaning
to apply oil or grease to reduce friction between surfaces
Example
The mechanic lubricated the car engine parts.
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.
A2 adjective /ˈlʌv.li/

Lovely

Meaning
beautiful; charming; delightful; attractive
Example
What a lovely day for a picnic!
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.
B2 verb /liːp/

leap

Meaning
to jump high or far; to move quickly with large steps
Example
The cat leaped onto the table.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈlɪtərɛri/

literary

Meaning
concerning the writing, study, or content of literature
Example
She is a well-known figure in the literary world.
C1 noun ˈlɪniɪdʒ

Lineage

Meaning
Direct descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree.
Example
Tracing your lineage can reveal unknown ancestors.
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 /ˈlʌstrəs/

lustrous

Meaning
having a gentle sheen or soft glow
Example
Her hair looked smooth and lustrous.
C1 noun /ˈliːniənsi/

leniency

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

launched

Meaning
Set (something) in motion by pushing it or letting it go.
Example
The satellite was launched successfully.
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.
C2 verb /ˈlɪk.wɪ.faɪ/

liquefy

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

livid

Meaning
Extremely angry; furious.
Example
She was livid when she found out about the betrayal.
C1 noun /lɔnˈdʒɛvəti/

longevity

Meaning
Long life or long existence of something.
Example
Good habits contribute to health and longevity.
B1 noun /ˈlaɪ.kɪŋ/

Liking

Meaning
a feeling of regard or fondness; a preference or taste for something
Example
She has developed a liking for classical music.
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 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.
B2 noun /ˈlɒbi/

lobby

Meaning
a large open area near the entrance of a building; also a group trying to influence decisions.
Example
We met the manager in the hotel lobby before the meeting.
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.
B1 adjective /luːs/

loose

Meaning
not firmly or tightly fixed in place
Example
The screw is loose and needs tightening.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 noun /ˈlʌləˌbaɪ/

lullaby

Meaning
a soothing song sung to help a child fall asleep
Example
She sang a lullaby to her baby every night.
B2 noun /ˈleɪaʊt/

layout

Meaning
the arrangement or design of something, especially the arrangement of elements in a book, webpage, or room
Example
The designer presented a new layout for the website that was much more user-friendly.
A1 verb /ˈlɪsən/

listen

Meaning
to pay attention to sounds; to hear someone or something with thoughtful attention
Example
Please listen carefully to the instructions.
C2 adjective /ˈlɪmpɪd/

limpid

Meaning
Clear and transparent, easily understood.
Example
The limpid water of the lake reflected the sky perfectly.
A2 noun /ˈlɜːrnər/

learner

Meaning
a person who is acquiring knowledge or skill through study or experience
Example
She is a fast learner.
B2 noun /ˈleð.ər/

Leather

Meaning
animal skin that has been treated to preserve it and make it suitable for use
Example
He bought a leather jacket from the store.
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.
C1 noun /ˈlʊkaʊt/

lookout

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

laudable

Meaning
Deserving praise and admiration.
Example
Her efforts to help the poor are truly laudable.
C1 noun, verb /ˈliːvər/ or /ˈlɛvər/

lever

Meaning
a rigid bar used to move or lift heavy objects; to move something using leverage.
Example
He used a lever to lift the heavy stone.
B2 adverb /ˈlaɪtli/

lightly

Meaning
gently or with little force or weight
Example
She touched the baby’s hand lightly.
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.
C1 adjective /ˈliː.θəl/

Lethal

Meaning
deadly; fatal; capable of causing death
Example
The snake's venom is lethal to humans if not treated immediately.
C1 verb /ˈliːɡəlaɪz/

legalize

Meaning
To make something lawful by official approval.
Example
The government decided to legalize online businesses.
C1 noun ˈledʒ.ɪ.slə.tʃər

legislature

Meaning
The legislative body of a country or state; the branch of government that makes laws.
Example
The legislature drafts laws for governance.
C1 noun, adjective /ˈlæksətɪv/

laxative

Meaning
A medicine or substance that stimulates bowel movements; tending to loosen or relieve constipation.
Example
The doctor prescribed a mild laxative for her condition.
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 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.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈliːənaɪn/

leonine

Meaning
Of or resembling a lion.
Example
His leonine hair made him stand out in the crowd.
C1 noun /ˌloʊ.kəˈmoʊ.tɪv/

locomotive

Meaning
A powered rail vehicle used for pulling trains.
Example
The old steam locomotive was restored for the museum.
C1 noun /ˈloʊ.kəst/

Locust

Meaning
a large insect that flies in groups and eats crops
Example
The locusts destroyed the entire wheat field.
C2 noun /ˌluːkjʊˈbreɪʃən/

lucubration

Meaning
study or meditation, especially at night
Example
His novel was the result of long lucubration.
C2 noun /ˌlaɪ.pəˈdʒen.ɪ.sɪs/

lipogenesis

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.
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 /ˈlɪtə(r)/

liter

Meaning
a metric unit of volume equal to one cubic decimeter
Example
The recipe calls for two liters of water.
B2 adjective /liːn/

Lean

Meaning
thin; having little fat; weak
Example
He has a lean and muscular body.
C1 noun /ˈlaɪm.stoʊn/

Lime stone

Meaning
a hard sedimentary rock, composed mainly of calcium carbonate or dolomite, used as building material and in the making of cement
Example
The ancient building was made of limestone blocks.
C1 noun /ˈlɪbərəlɪzəm/

liberalism

Meaning
a political and social philosophy advocating individual freedoms, democracy, and equality
Example
Liberalism emphasizes freedom of speech and human rights.
B2 adjective, adverb /ˈlɒŋ taɪm/

long-time

Meaning
lasting or existing for a long period of time; having continued for many years
Example
She is a long-time friend of my family.
A2 noun/adjective /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

living

Meaning
the state of being alive; or a way of earning money
Example
He makes his living as a teacher.
A2 adjective /ˈlʌki/

lucky

Meaning
having good fortune or favorable circumstances
Example
She felt lucky to have such supportive friends.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈlɛdʒɪslətɪv/

legislative

Meaning
relating to the making of laws
Example
The legislative body passed the new tax bill.
C1 noun /ˌluː.brɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

lubrication

Meaning
The action of applying a substance to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact.
Example
Lubrication of the eyes is essential for well-being.
A2 verb /liːd/

lead

Meaning
To guide or be in charge; to show the way.
Example
He led the team to victory.
C2 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriənt/

luxuriant

Meaning
abundant in growth or richly abundant
Example
The luxuriant forest was teeming with life.
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 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.
A2 noun, verb /lɪŋk/

link

Meaning
a connection between two things; to connect or associate
Example
The article includes a link to the official website.
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.
C1 noun /luː/

lieu

Meaning
Instead of; in place of.
Example
He gave money in lieu of flowers.
B1 noun /ˈleɪ.bər/

Labour

Meaning
work involving physical or mental effort; workers as a group
Example
The construction required months of hard labour to complete.
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.
A2 adverb /ˈlaʊdli/

loudly

Meaning
in a way that produces a lot of sound; with a high volume
Example
He spoke loudly so everyone in the room could hear him.
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 adjective /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs/

luxurious

Meaning
extremely comfortable, elegant, or enjoyable, often involving great expense
Example
They stayed in a luxurious hotel during their vacation.
C2 noun /ˈlɪθəˌɡræf/

lithograph

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

linguistics

Meaning
The scientific study of language and its structure.
Example
She decided to major in linguistics at university.
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 adjective ləˈθɑːrdʒɪk

lethargic

Meaning
Being inactive due to lack of physical or mental energy
Example
After a heavy meal, he felt lethargic and sleepy.
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.
C2 adjective /ˈlɔːdəˌtɔːri/

laudatory

Meaning
Expressing praise or admiration.
Example
She wrote a laudatory review of the new book.
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.
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.
A1 verb /læf/

laugh

Meaning
to make sounds and movements expressing happiness or amusement
Example
The joke made everyone laugh.
B2 noun /ˈlɪkər/

liquor

Meaning
Alcoholic drinks, especially strong distilled ones such as whiskey or vodka.
Example
The shop sells both beer and hard liquor.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈlɛŋθi/

lengthy

Meaning
long in duration or extent
Example
The meeting was lengthy, lasting over three hours.
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.
C1 noun /ˈlɪrɪk/

lyric

Meaning
the words of a song or a short poem that expresses personal feelings
Example
She memorized every lyric of her favorite song.
C2 noun /ˌlɛksɪˈkɒɡrəfi/

lexicography

Meaning
The art or practice of compiling dictionaries.
Example
Lexicography requires both linguistic and cultural knowledge.
A1 noun, verb /laɪn/

line

Meaning
A long narrow mark or band; a row of people or things; to cover the inside surface of something.
Example
People waited in a long line outside the theater.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈlɔɪ.əl/

Loyal

Meaning
faithful; devoted; trustworthy
Example
He remained loyal to his friends through difficult times.
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.
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.
B1 noun /ˈlænd.skeɪp/

Landscape

Meaning
all the visible features of an area of countryside or land; the art of designing outdoor areas
Example
The mountain landscape was breathtaking with its snow-capped peaks and green valleys.
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.
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.
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.
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 adjective /ˌlɪlɪˈpjuːʃən/

lilliputian

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

loll

Meaning
To sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
Example
He lolled on the sofa after a long day at 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.
C2 noun /ˈlæsi/

lassie

Meaning
a young girl (informal, mainly Scottish)
Example
The old man greeted the little lassie warmly.
B1 noun /læk/

Lack

Meaning
the state of being without or not having enough of something; absence or shortage
Example
The lack of rain this summer has caused serious problems for farmers.
B1 noun /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/

lighting

Meaning
the arrangement or use of light in a place; the act of providing light
Example
The lighting in the restaurant created a warm and cozy atmosphere.
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.
B2 noun /ˈlɪvər/

liver

Meaning
a large organ in the body that cleans the blood and produces bile to help digest food.
Example
The liver plays a vital role in removing toxins from the body.
C1 noun /ˈleɪ.mən/

Layman

Meaning
a person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject
Example
The doctor explained the procedure in layman's terms.
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.
C2 noun /ˈliːdʒənəri/

legionary

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

logician

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