4 VERB To lace food or drink with a substance such as alcohol or a drug means to put a small amount of the substance into the food or drink. □ [V n + with ] She laced his food with sleeping pills.
▸ lace up → see lace 3
lac|er|ate /læ səre I t/ (lacerates , lacerating , lacerated ) VERB If something lacerates your skin, it cuts it badly and deeply. □ [V n] Its claws lacerated his thighs. [Also V ] ● lac|er|ated ADJ □ She was suffering from a badly lacerated hand.
lac|era|tion /læ səre I ʃ ə n/ (lacerations ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Lacerations are deep cuts on your skin. □ [+ on ] He had lacerations on his back and thighs.
la ce-ups The form lace-up is used as a modifier. N‑PLURAL Lace-ups are shoes which are fastened with laces. [BRIT ] □ Slip-on shoes are easier to put on than lace-ups. □ He was wearing black lace-up shoes.
lach|ry|mose /læ kr I moʊs, -moʊz/ ADJ Someone who is lachrymose cries very easily and very often. [LITERARY ] □ …the tears of lachrymose mourners.
lack ◆◆◇ /læ k/ (lacks , lacking , lacked )
1 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If there is a lack of something, there is not enough of it or it does not exist at all. □ [+ of ] Despite his lack of experience, he got the job. □ [+ of ] The charges were dropped for lack of evidence. □ [+ of ] There is a lack of people wanting to start up new businesses.
2 VERB If you say that someone or something lacks a particular quality or that a particular quality is lacking in them, you mean that they do not have any or enough of it. □ [V n] He lacked the judgment and political acumen for the post of chairman. □ [V ] Certain vital information is lacking in the report.
3 → see also lacking
4 PHRASE If you say there is no lack of something, you are emphasizing that there is a great deal of it. [EMPHASIS ] □ He said there was no lack of things for them to talk about. COLLOCATIONS lack NOUN 1
adjective + lack : apparent, distinct, general, relative; appalling, chronic, severe, woeful; complete, profound, total
verb + lack : bemoan, blame, criticize, lament; cite, expose, indicate, show VERB 2
lack + noun : confidence, experience, skill, power; credibility, discipline, imagination; support, resources
lacka|dai|si|cal /læ kəde I z I k ə l/ ADJ If you say that someone is lackadaisical , you mean that they are rather lazy and do not show much interest or enthusiasm in what they do. □ Dr. Jonsen seemed a little lackadaisical at times. □ …the lackadaisical attitude of a number of the principal players.
lack|ey /læ ki/ (lackeys ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a lackey , you are critical of them because they follow someone's orders completely, without ever questioning them. [DISAPPROVAL ]
lack|ing /la k I ŋ/
1 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If something or someone is lacking in a particular quality, they do not have any of it or enough of it. □ [+ in ] She felt nervous, increasingly lacking in confidence about herself. □ Why was military intelligence so lacking?
2 → see also lack
lack|lustre /læ klʌstə r / in AM, use lackluster ADJ If you describe something or someone as lacklustre , you mean that they are not exciting or energetic. □ He has already been blamed for his party's lackluster performance during the election campaign.
la|con|ic /ləkɒ n I k/ ADJ If you describe someone as laconic , you mean that they use very few words to say something, so that they seem casual or unfriendly. □ Usually so laconic in the office, Dr. Lahey seemed less guarded, more relaxed.
lac|quer /læ kə r / (lacquers ) N‑VAR Lacquer is a special liquid which is painted on wood or metal in order to protect it and to make it shiny. □ We put on the second coating of lacquer. □ Only the finest lacquers are used for finishes.
lac|quered /læ kə r d/ ADJ [ADJ n] Lacquered is used to describe things that have been coated or sprayed with lacquer. □ …17th-century lacquered cabinets. □ …perfectly lacquered hair and face powder.
la|crosse /ləkrɒ s, [AM ] -krɔː s/ N‑UNCOUNT Lacrosse is an outdoor game in which players use long sticks with nets at the end to catch and throw a small ball, in order to try and score goals.
lac|ta|tion /lækte I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Lactation is the production of milk by women and female mammals during the period after they give birth. [FORMAL ]
lac|tic acid /læ kt I k æ s I d/ N‑UNCOUNT Lactic acid is a type of acid which is found in sour milk and is also produced by your muscles when you have been exercising a lot.
lac|tose /læ ktoʊs/ N‑UNCOUNT Lactose is a type of sugar which is found in milk and which is sometimes added to food.
la|cu|na /ləkjuː nə/ (lacunae ) N‑COUNT If you say that there is a lacuna in something such as a document or a person's argument, you mean that it does not deal with an important issue and is therefore not effective or convincing. [FORMAL ]
lacy /le I si/ (lacier , laciest )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Lacy things are made from lace or have pieces of lace attached to them. □ …lacy nightgowns.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Lacy is used to describe something that looks like lace, especially because it is very delicate. □ …lacy ferns.