English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
CEFR Level
Related to or situated on the shore of the sea or a lake.
"The littoral zone is home to many unique marine species."
A form or formulary according to which public religious worship is conducted.
"The priest followed the liturgy during the Sunday mass."
A fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus.
"The farmer used loam to improve the fertility of the field."
causing hatred or disgust; repulsive
"The loathsome smell from the garbage made everyone leave the room."
a grammatical case indicating location or place
"In Latin, the locative case is used to indicate location."
a lake or sea inlet, especially in Scotland
"Tourists visit Loch Ness to search for the legendary monster."
A rich source of something, often a vein of valuable metal in the earth.
"The miners discovered a rich lode of silver."
The act of lodging or a place of temporary stay; also a deposit of something.
"The soldiers found lodgment in the abandoned house."
A person skilled in logic and reasoning.
"Aristotle is considered one of the greatest logicians in history."
To stand or wait around idly without apparent purpose.
"The teenagers were told not to loiter outside the shop."
A person who lingers aimlessly in a place without purpose.
"The police questioned the loiterer outside the store."
To sit, lie, or stand in a lazy, relaxed way.
"He lolled on the sofa after a long day at work."
an elongated green vegetable belonging to the cucumber family, used in cooking
"She sliced the long gourd thinly for the stir-fry dish."
a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit which is used as a spice
"Long pepper was more valuable than black pepper in ancient times."
A type of freshwater fish with long whisker-like barbels around its mouth
"The fisherman caught a long whiskered catfish in the river."
a small round tropical fruit with translucent white flesh and sweet taste, related to lychee
"Longan fruits are often eaten fresh or dried and are popular in Asian desserts."
crazy; silly; mentally unstable
"His loony behavior made everyone laugh."
crazy, silly, or eccentric
"After working all night, he felt a little loopy."
to run or move with a long, bounding stride
"The horse loped gracefully across the field."
tending to talk a great deal; very talkative
"The loquacious child entertained everyone with endless stories."
A young or petty lord; someone of minor nobility.
"The arrogant lordling demanded respect despite his lack of experience."
An Irish or Scottish word for a lake or sea inlet.
"The fishermen lived by the lough for generations."
A small parasitic insect that lives on the skin of mammals and birds; also used as an insult for a contemptible person.
"The child had to be treated for head louse infestation."
An uncouth or aggressive man or boy.
"The drunken lout caused a scene at the party."
Clumsy, rude, or aggressive in behavior.
"His loutish remarks offended everyone at the meeting."
the quality of being slippery or smooth; sometimes also refers to lewdness
"The lubricity of the surface made it difficult to walk on."
shining or glowing with light
"The lucent stars brightened the night sky."
Clarity of thought or style; the quality of being easily understood.
"His explanation had great lucidity, making it easy to understand."
money, especially when regarded as sordid or gained dishonorably
"He was motivated more by lucre than by duty."
study or meditation, especially at night
"His novel was the result of long lucubration."
to carry or drag something heavy or cumbersome with effort
"He had to lug the suitcase up three flights of stairs."
looking or sounding sad and dismal
"His lugubrious expression made everyone feel uneasy."
A unit of luminous flux, measuring the amount of visible light emitted by a source.
"The bulb produces 800 lumens of light."
A person who inspires or influences others, especially in a particular field.
"He is considered a luminary in the world of science."
The emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat; a type of cold light.
"The luminescence of the fireflies lit up the forest."
Emitting light without heat, glowing softly.
"The luminescent watch dial was visible in the dark."
Extreme foolishness or madness; insanity.
"It was sheer lunacy to go hiking in the storm."
A crescent-shaped figure formed by two intersecting arcs; also means 'moon' in French.
"The mathematician studied the properties of the lune."
a traditional garment worn around the waist in South Asia
"He wore a comfortable lungi while relaxing at home."
having a gentle sheen or soft glow
"Her hair looked smooth and lustrous."
abundant growth, richness, or elegance
"The garden was filled with the luxuriance of tropical plants."
abundant in growth or richly abundant
"The luxuriant forest was teeming with life."
to enjoy something in a self-indulgent way; to take pleasure in great comfort
"She luxuriated in the warm bubble bath after a long day."
a stringed musical instrument of ancient Greece
"The musician played a melody on the lyre."
to construct or cover a road with broken stone
"The government decided to macadamize the old rural roads."
a ceremonial staff carried as a symbol of authority or a weapon similar to a club
"The guard carried a mace as a symbol of authority."
to soften or break up something, especially food, by soaking in liquid
"The chef macerated the fruit in wine before serving."
cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics or in advancing one's career
"The politician was known for his Machiavellian tactics."
to engage in plots or schemes, usually for harmful or evil purposes
"The rebels tried to machinate against the king."
a secret plan or scheme intended to accomplish something, especially something evil
"The detective uncovered the villain's machination."