1 N‑COUNT A lark is a small brown bird which makes a pleasant sound.
2 N‑COUNT If you say that doing something is a lark , you mean that it is fun, although perhaps naughty or dangerous. □ The children thought it was a great lark.
lar|va /lɑː r və/ (larvae /lɑː r viː/) N‑COUNT A larva is an insect at the stage of its life after it has developed from an egg and before it changes into its adult form. □ The eggs quickly hatch into larvae.
lar|val /lɑː r v ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Larval means concerning insect larvae or in the state of being an insect larva.
lar|yn|gi|tis /læ r I ndʒa I t I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Laryngitis is an infection of the throat in which your larynx becomes swollen and painful, making it difficult to speak.
lar|ynx /læ r I ŋks/ (larynxes ) N‑COUNT Your larynx is the top part of the passage that leads from your throat to your lungs and contains your vocal cords. [MEDICAL ]
la|sa|gne /ləsæ njə/ (lasagnes ) also lasagna N‑VAR Lasagne is a food dish that consists of layers of pasta, sauce, and a filling such as meat or cheese, baked in an oven.
las|civi|ous /ləs I viəs/ ADJ If you describe someone as lascivious , you disapprove of them because they show a very strong interest in sex. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The man was lascivious, sexually perverted and insatiable. □ …their lewd and lascivious talk.
la|ser /le I zə r / (lasers , lasering , lasered )
1 N‑COUNT A laser is a narrow beam of concentrated light produced by a special machine. It is used for cutting very hard materials, and in many technical fields such as surgery and telecommunications. □ …new laser technology.
2 N‑COUNT A laser is a machine that produces a laser beam. □ …the first-ever laser, built in 1960.
3 VERB If you have part of your body lasered , you have it treated using a laser. □ [have n V -ed] I had my eyes lasered. I was shortsighted and now I'm not. □ [V n] British men are shaving, waxing and lasering their body hair like never before.
la |ser print|er (laser printers ) N‑COUNT A laser printer is a computer printer that produces clear words and pictures by using laser beams.
lash /læ ʃ/ (lashes , lashing , lashed )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your lashes are the hairs that grow on the edge of your upper and lower eyelids. □ …sombre grey eyes, with unusually long lashes. □ Joanna studied him through her lashes.
2 VERB If you lash two or more things together, you tie one of them firmly to the other. □ [V n + to ] Secure the anchor by lashing it to the rail. □ [V n with together ] The shelter is built by lashing poles together to form a small dome. □ [V n with adv] We were worried about the lifeboat which was not lashed down. [Also V n]
3 VERB If wind, rain, or water lashes someone or something, it hits them violently. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] The worst winter storms of the century lashed the east coast of North America. □ [V prep/adv] Suddenly rain lashed against the windows.
4 VERB If someone lashes you or lashes into you, they speak very angrily to you, criticizing you or saying you have done something wrong. □ [V n] She went quiet for a moment while she summoned up the words to lash him. □ [V + into ] The report lashes into police commanders for failing to act on intelligence information.
5 N‑COUNT A lash is a thin strip of leather at the end of a whip.
6 N‑COUNT A lash is a blow with a whip, especially a blow on someone's back as a punishment. □ [+ for ] The villagers sentenced one man to five lashes for stealing a ham from his neighbor.
▸ lash out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you lash out , you attempt to hit someone quickly and violently with a weapon or with your hands or feet. □ [V P ] Riot police fired in the air and lashed out with clubs to disperse hundreds of demonstrators. □ [V P + at ] Her husband has a terrible temper and lashes out at her when he's angry.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you lash out at someone or something, you speak to them or about them very angrily or critically. □ [V P + at/against ] As a politician Jefferson frequently lashed out at the press. [Also V P ]
lash|ing /læ ʃ I ŋ/ (lashings )
1 QUANT Lashings of something means a large quantity or amount of it. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Serve by cutting the scones in half and spreading with jam and lashings of clotted cream.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Lashings are ropes or cables that are used to tie one thing to another. □ We made a tour of the yacht, checking lashings and emergency gear.
3 N‑COUNT If you refer to someone's comments as a lashing , you mean that they are very critical and angry. □ He never grew used to the lashings he got from the critics.
4 N‑COUNT A lashing is a punishment in which a person is hit with a whip.
lass /læ s/ (lasses ) N‑COUNT A lass is a young woman or girl. [mainly SCOTTISH or NORTHERN ENGLISH ] □ Anne is a Lancashire lass from Longton, near Preston. □ 'What is it, lass?' Finlay cried.
las|sie /læ si/ (lassies ) N‑COUNT A lassie is a young woman or girl. [mainly SCOTTISH , INFORMAL ]
las|si|tude /læ s I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ N‑UNCOUNT Lassitude is a state of tiredness, laziness, or lack of interest. [FORMAL ] □ Symptoms of anaemia include general fatigue and lassitude.
las|so /læsuː , [AM ] læ soʊ/ (lassoes , lassoing , lassoed )