CEFR Level
easily altered or unstable; prone to change
"Her mood was so labile that it changed several times in an hour."
Like a labyrinth; complicated and confusing; having many interconnected paths or passages.
"The old city streets were labyrinthine."
to tear or cut deeply in the skin or flesh
"The broken glass lacerated his hand."
a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh
"He needed stitches for a laceration on his leg."
tearful or given to weeping; sad and mournful
"The movie's lachrymose ending left the audience in tears."
lacking enthusiasm, energy, or determination; careless or lazy
"His lackadaisical attitude toward work annoyed his boss."
a person who is overly willing to serve or obey someone else
"He treated his assistant like a mere lackey."
using very few words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious
"His laconic reply ended the conversation quickly."
the secretion of milk by the mammary glands of female mammals
"The doctor explained that lactation is a natural process after childbirth."
Relating to or resembling milk; conveying chyle or milky fluid.
"The lacteal vessels in the small intestine absorb dietary fats."
A person or thing that is slow or falls behind others.
"The company has been a laggard in adopting new technology."
A small gift or bonus given by a seller to a customer.
"The shopkeeper offered a piece of candy as a lagniappe."
Ordinary members of a religious community who are not clergy.
"The church welcomed the laity to participate in the event."
To criticize harshly or to beat severely.
"The coach lambasted the team for their poor performance."
to criticize someone or something harshly; to reprimand severely
"The teacher lambasted the students for not completing their homework."
glowing or flickering softly; having a gentle radiance
"The lambent light of the candle filled the room with warmth."
deserving to be criticized or regretted; unfortunate
"The team’s lamentable performance disappointed their fans."
to publicly criticize or ridicule someone or something with humor, irony, or sarcasm
"The cartoonist lampooned the politician for his contradictory statements."
a small, sharp, two-edged surgical knife used for making small incisions
"The doctor used a lancet to prick the patient’s finger for a blood test."
a person who owns land, especially in large amounts
"The landholder leased part of his property to local farmers."
a long-tailed monkey found in Asia, especially India and Southeast Asia
"The langoor was sitting on the tree branch eating fruits."
Displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion; weak or faint.
"He gave a languid wave before leaving the room."
A state of tiredness, inertia, or dreamy relaxation.
"The hot afternoon filled her with languor."
Tall, thin, and often awkward in appearance.
"The lank teenager towered over his classmates."
a tropical flowering plant with clusters of small colorful flowers
"The lantana flowers attract butterflies to the garden."
As noun: a person who cuts, polishes, or engraves precious stones; As adjective: relating to such work.
"The museum displayed lapidary tools used in ancient times."
The unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.
"He was arrested for committing larceny at the store."
A place, such as a pantry, where food is stored.
"The larder was full of fresh bread and cheese."
Generosity in giving gifts or money.
"The foundation survived thanks to the largess of wealthy donors."
The act of giving generously, often with gifts or money.
"The orphanage benefited from the largesse of the community."
A long rope with a noose at one end used to catch animals such as cattle or horses.
"The cowboy threw his lariat to catch the stray horse."
showing an overt and often offensive sexual desire
"The lascivious remarks made everyone uncomfortable."
a young girl (informal, mainly Scottish)
"The old man greeted the little lassie warmly."
a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy
"After the long hike, a feeling of lassitude swept over the group."
a rope with a loop used to catch animals; to catch with such a rope
"The cowboy lassoed the horse quickly."
A machine for shaping wood, metal, or other material by rotating it against a cutting tool.
"The carpenter used a lathe to shape the wooden bowl."
Somewhat late; occurring or arriving later than usual but not very late.
"We arrived latish to the party but still caught most of the fun."
A structure of crossed strips arranged in a grid or crisscross pattern.
"The garden was decorated with a wooden lattice covered in vines."
The act of praising or expressing approval.
"The poet received much laudation for his moving verses."
Expressing praise or admiration.
"She wrote a laudatory review of the new book."
A woman whose job is washing clothes and linens.
"The laundress delivered the freshly cleaned clothes to the household."
To wash or bathe.
"She laved her face with cool water."
A person who creates or enforces laws; a legislator.
"Moses is often regarded as a great lawgiver in history."
a substance, typically yeast, that causes dough to rise; to permeate and modify
"A little yeast will leaven the bread dough."
things that have been left behind or remain; remnants or scraps
"The leavings from dinner were given to the dog."
a man who behaves in a sexually inappropriate way towards women
"The company fired him for being a lecher."
having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire
"The character was portrayed as a lecherous old man."
excessive or offensive sexual desire; lustfulness
"The novel depicted the lechery of corrupt nobles."
