2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A legendary person, place, or event is mentioned or described in an old legend. □ The hill is supposed to be the resting place of the legendary King Lud.
-legged /-leg I d/ → see leg
leg|gings /le g I ŋz/
1 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Leggings are close-fitting trousers, usually made out of a stretchy fabric, that are worn by women and girls.
2 N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Leggings are an outer covering of leather or other strong material, often in the form of trousers, that you wear over your normal trousers in order to protect them. □ …a pair of leggings to slip on over your other clothes.
leg|gy /le gi/ ADJ If you describe someone, usually a woman, as leggy , you mean that they have very long legs and usually that you find this attractive. □ The leggy beauty was none other than our own Naomi Campbell.
leg|ible /le dʒ I b ə l/ ADJ Legible writing is clear enough to read. □ My handwriting isn't very legible. □ …a barely legible sign.
le|gion /liː dʒ ə n/ (legions )
1 N‑COUNT [oft in names] A legion is a large group of soldiers who form one section of an army. □ He joined the French Foreign Legion.
2 N‑COUNT A legion of people or things is a great number of them. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] His delightful sense of humour won him a legion of friends.
3 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that things of a particular kind are legion , you mean that there are a great number of them. [FORMAL ] □ Ellie's problems are legion.
leg|is|late /le dʒ I sle I t/ (legislates , legislating , legislated ) VERB When a government or state legislates , it passes a new law. [FORMAL ] □ [V + against ] Most member countries have already legislated against excessive overtime. □ [V to-inf] You cannot legislate to change attitudes. □ [V n] …attempts to legislate a national energy strategy. [Also V ] [Also V + for/on ]
leg|is|la|tion ◆◇◇ /le dʒ I sle I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Legislation consists of a law or laws passed by a government. [FORMAL ] □ …a letter calling for legislation to protect women's rights.
leg|is|la|tive /le dʒ I slət I v, [AM ] -le I -/ ADJ [ADJ n] Legislative means involving or relating to the process of making and passing laws. [FORMAL ] □ Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process. □ …the country's highest legislative body.
leg|is|la|tor /le dʒ I sle I tə r / (legislators ) N‑COUNT A legislator is a person who is involved in making or passing laws. [FORMAL ] □ …an attempt to get U.S. legislators to change the system.
leg|is|la|ture /le dʒ I slətʃə r , [AM ] -le I -/ (legislatures ) N‑COUNT The legislature of a particular state or country is the group of people in it who have the power to make and pass laws. [FORMAL ] □ The Florida state legislature passed new gambling laws.
le|git /lədʒ I t/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you describe a person or thing as legit , you mean that they are in accordance with the law or with a particular set of rules and regulations. [INFORMAL ] □ I checked him out, he's legit. □ What is the point of going legit and getting married?
le|giti|mate /l I dʒ I t I mət/
1 ADJ Something that is legitimate is acceptable according to the law. □ The government will not seek to disrupt the legitimate business activities of the defendant. ● le|giti|ma|cy /l I dʒ I t I məsi/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] The opposition parties do not recognise the political legitimacy of his government. ● le|giti|mate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The government has been legitimately elected by the people.
2 ADJ If you say that something such as a feeling or claim is legitimate , you think that it is reasonable and justified. □ That's a perfectly legitimate fear. □ The New York Times has a legitimate claim to be a national newspaper. ● le|giti|ma|cy N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] As if to prove the legitimacy of these fears, the Cabinet of Franz von Papen collapsed on December 2. ● le|giti|mate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ [+ with ] They could quarrel quite legitimately with some of my choices.
3 ADJ A legitimate child is one whose parents were married before he or she was born. □ We only married in order that the child should be legitimate.
le|giti|mize /l I dʒ I t I ma I z/ (legitimizes , legitimizing , legitimized ) The spellings legitimise in British English, and legitimatize in American English are also used. VERB To legitimize something, especially something bad, means to officially allow it, approve it, or make it seem acceptable. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] They will accept no agreement that legitimizes the ethnic division of the country.
leg|less /le gləs/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] A legless person or animal has no legs.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that someone is legless , you mean that they are extremely drunk. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ They found the locals getting legless on tequila.
le g room N‑UNCOUNT Leg room is the amount of space, especially in a car or other vehicle, that is available in front of your legs. □ Tall drivers won't have enough leg room.
leg|ume /le gjuːm/ (legumes ) N‑COUNT People sometimes use legumes to refer to peas, beans, and other related vegetables. [TECHNICAL ]
lei|sure /le ʒə r , [AM ] liː ʒ-/
1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Leisure is the time when you are not working and you can relax and do things that you enjoy. □ …a relaxing way to fill my leisure time. □ …one of Britain's most popular leisure activities.