Ku Klux Klan /kuː klʌ ks klæ n/ N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] The Ku Klux Klan is a secret organization of white Protestant men in the United States which promotes violence against black people, Jews, and other minorities.
kung fu /kʌ ŋ fuː / N‑UNCOUNT Kung fu is a Chinese way of fighting in which people use only their bare hands and feet.
Ku|wai|ti /kʊwe I ti/ (Kuwaitis )
1 ADJ Kuwaiti means belonging or relating to Kuwait, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT A Kuwaiti is a Kuwaiti citizen, or a person of Kuwaiti origin.
KW also kW KW is a written abbreviation for kilowatt .
Ll
L , l /e l/ (L's, l's )
1 N‑VAR L is the twelfth letter of the English alphabet.
2 N‑VAR L is the symbol for 'learner driver' in Britain. A large red 'L' on a white background is attached to cars in which people are learning to drive.
L8R L8R is the written abbreviation for 'later', sometimes used in text messages and emails. [COMPUTING ]
La. La. is a written abbreviation for lane , and is used especially in addresses and on maps or signs. [BRIT ] □ Andy's Records, 14–16 Lower Goat La., Norwich.
lab /læ b/ (labs )
1 N‑COUNT A lab is the same as a laboratory .
2 In Britain, Lab is the written abbreviation for labour . □ …Diane Abbott (Lab, Hackney North and Stoke Newington).
la|bel ◆◇◇ /le I b ə l/ (labels , labelling , labelled ) in AM, use labeling , labeled 1 N‑COUNT A label is a piece of paper or plastic that is attached to an object in order to give information about it. □ [+ on ] He peered at the label on the bottle.
2 VERB [usu passive] If something is labelled , a label is attached to it giving information about it. □ [be V -ed] The stuff has never been properly logged and labelled. □ [V -ed quote] Meat labelled 'Scotch Beef' sells for a premium in supermarkets. □ [be V -ed + with ] All the products are labelled with comprehensive instructions.
3 VERB [usu passive] If you say that someone or something is labelled as a particular thing, you mean that people generally describe them that way and you think that this is unfair. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [be V -ed + as ] Too often the press are labelled as bad boys. □ [be V -ed + as ] Certain estates are labelled as undesirable. □ [be V -ed n] They are afraid to contact the social services in case they are labelled a problem family. □ [be V -ed] If you venture from 'feminine' standards, you are labelled aggressive and hostile.
4 N‑COUNT If you say that someone gets a particular label , you mean that people show disapproval of them by describing them with a critical word or phrase. □ [+ of ] They remain on course for the label of worst Super League side.
la|bor /le I bə r / → see labour
la|bora|tory ◆◇◇ /ləbɒ rətri, [AM ] læ brətɔːri/ (laboratories )
1 N‑COUNT A laboratory is a building or a room where scientific experiments, analyses, and research are carried out.
2 N‑COUNT A laboratory in a school, college, or university is a room containing scientific equipment where students are taught science subjects such as chemistry.
3 → see also language laboratory
La |bor Day N‑UNCOUNT In the United States, Labor Day is a public holiday in honour of working people. It is the first Monday in September.
la|bor|er /le I bərə r / → see labourer
la|bo|ri|ous /ləbɔː riəs/ ADJ If you describe a task or job as laborious , you mean that it takes a lot of time and effort. □ Keeping the garden tidy all year round can be a laborious task. ● la|bo|ri|ous|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ …the embroidery she'd worked on so laboriously during the long winter nights.
la |bor un|ion (labor unions ) N‑COUNT A labor union is an organization that represents the rights and interests of workers to their employers, for example in order to improve working conditions or wages. [AM ] in BRIT, use trade union
la|bour ◆◆◆ /le I bə r / (labours , labouring , laboured ) in AM, use labor 1 N‑UNCOUNT Labour is very hard work, usually physical work. □ [+ of ] …the labour of seeding, planting and harvesting. □ The chef at the barbecue looked up from his labours; he was sweating.
2 → see also hard labour
3 VERB Someone who labours works hard using their hands. □ [V ] …peasants labouring in the fields. □ [V ] Her husband laboured at the plant for 17 years.
4 VERB If you labour to do something, you do it with difficulty. □ [V to-inf] For twenty-five years now he has laboured to build a religious community. □ [V + under ] …a young man who's labouring under all kinds of other difficulties.
5 N‑UNCOUNT Labour is used to refer to the workers of a country or industry, considered as a group. □ Latin America lacked skilled labour. □ They were cheap labour.
6 N‑UNCOUNT [oft poss N ] The work done by a group of workers or by a particular worker is referred to as their labour . □ The unemployed cannot withdraw their labour–they have no power.
7 N‑PROPER [with sing or pl verb] In Britain, people use Labour to refer to the Labour Party . □ They all vote Labour.