2 N‑COUNT People sometimes use lamb when they are addressing or referring to someone who they are fond of and who is young, gentle, or unfortunate. [FEELINGS ] □ She came and put her arms around me. 'You poor lamb. What's wrong?'
3 mutton dressed as lamb → see mutton
lam|bast /læmbæ st/ (lambasts , lambasting , lambasted ) in AM, usually use lambaste /læmbe I st/ VERB If you lambast someone, you criticize them severely, usually in public. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Grey took every opportunity to lambast Thompson and his organization.
lamb|ing /læ m I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Lambing is the time in the spring when female sheep give birth to lambs. □ …the lambing season.
lame /le I m/ (lamer , lamest )
1 ADJ If someone is lame , they are unable to walk properly because of damage to one or both of their legs. □ [+ in ] He was aware that she was lame in one leg. □ David had to pull out of the Championships when his horse went lame. ● N‑PLURAL The lame are people who are lame. This use could cause offence. □ … the wounded and the lame of the last war.
2 ADJ If you describe something, for example an excuse, argument, or remark, as lame , you mean that it is poor or weak. □ He mumbled some lame excuse about having gone to sleep. □ All our theories sound pretty lame. ● lame|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'Lovely house,' I said lamely.
lamé /lɑː me I , [AM ] læme I / N‑UNCOUNT Lamé is cloth that has threads of gold or silver woven into it, which make it reflect light. □ …a silver lamé dress.
la me du ck (lame ducks )
1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] If you describe someone or something as a lame duck , you are critical of them because they are not successful and need to be helped a lot. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …lame-duck industries.
2 N‑COUNT [usu N n] If you refer to a politician or a government as a lame duck , you mean that they have little real power, for example because their period of office is coming to an end. □ …a lame duck government.
la|ment /ləme nt/ (laments , lamenting , lamented )
1 VERB If you lament something, you express your sadness, regret, or disappointment about it. [mainly FORMAL or WRITTEN ] □ [V n] Ken began to lament the death of his only son. □ [V that] He laments that people in Villa El Salvador are suspicious of the police. □ [V with quote] 'Prices are down 40 per cent since Christmas,' he lamented. [Also V ]
2 N‑COUNT [oft with poss] Someone's lament is an expression of their sadness, regret, or disappointment about something. [mainly FORMAL or WRITTEN ] □ [+ that ] The lament that pop culture has swamped British intellectual life is heard constantly.
3 N‑COUNT A lament is a poem, song, or piece of music which expresses sorrow that someone has died.
lam|en|table /læ məntəb ə l, ləme nt-/ ADJ If you describe something as lamentable , you mean that it is very unfortunate or disappointing. [LITERARY , FEELINGS ] □ This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947. □ His command of English was lamentable. ● lam|en|tably /læ məntəbli/ ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV with v] □ There are still lamentably few women surgeons. □ They have failed lamentably.
la|men|ta|tion /læ mente I ʃ ə n/ (lamentations ) N‑VAR A lamentation is an expression of great sorrow. [FORMAL ] □ It was a time for mourning and lamentation. □ …special prayers and lamentations.
lami|nate /læ m I nət/ (laminates ) N‑VAR A laminate is a tough material that is made by sticking together two or more layers of a particular substance.
lami|nat|ed /læ m I ne I t I d/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Material such as wood or plastic that is laminated consists of several thin sheets or layers that are stuck together. □ Modern windscreens are made from laminated glass.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A product that is laminated is covered with a thin sheet of something, especially clear or coloured plastic, in order to protect it. □ The photographs were mounted on laminated cards. □ …laminated work surfaces.
lamp /læ mp/ (lamps )
1 N‑COUNT A lamp is a light that works by using electricity or by burning oil or gas. □ She switched on the bedside lamp. □ In the evenings we eat by the light of an oil lamp.
2 N‑COUNT A lamp is an electrical device which produces a special type of light or heat, used especially in medical or beauty treatment. □ …a sun lamp. □ …the use of infra-red lamps.
lamp|light /læ mpla I t/ N‑UNCOUNT Lamplight is the light produced by a lamp. □ Her cheeks glowed red in the lamplight.
lam|poon /læmpuː n/ (lampoons , lampooning , lampooned )
1 VERB If you lampoon someone or something, you criticize them very strongly, using humorous means. □ [be V -ed] He was lampooned for his short stature and political views.
2 N‑VAR A lampoon is a piece of writing or speech which criticizes someone or something very strongly, using humorous means. □ [+ of ] …his scathing lampoons of consumer culture. □ The style Shelley is using here is that of popular lampoon.
la mp-post (lamp-posts ) also lamppost N‑COUNT A lamp-post is a tall metal or concrete pole that is fixed beside a road and has a light at the top. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use street lamp , street light
lamp|shade /læ mpʃe I d/ (lampshades ) N‑COUNT A lampshade is a covering that is fitted round or over an electric light bulb in order to protect it or decorate it, or to make the light less harsh.