letter|head /le tə r hed/ (letterheads ) N‑COUNT A letterhead is the name and address of a person, company, or organization which is printed at the top of their writing paper. □ [+ with ] Colleagues at work enjoy having a letterhead with their name at the top.
let|ter|ing /le tər I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Lettering is writing, especially when you are describing the type of letters used. □ …a small blue sign with white lettering.
le t|ter of cre d|it (letters of credit )
1 N‑COUNT A letter of credit is a letter written by a bank authorizing another bank to pay someone a sum of money. Letters of credit are often used by importers and exporters. [BUSINESS ]
2 N‑COUNT A letter of credit is a written promise from a bank stating that they will repay bonds to lenders if the borrowers are unable to pay them. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ from ] The project is being backed by a letter of credit from Lasalle Bank.
let|tuce /le t I s/ (lettuces ) N‑VAR A lettuce is a plant with large green leaves that is the basic ingredient of many salads.
le t-up N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If there is no let-up in something, usually something unpleasant, there is no reduction in the intensity of it. □ [+ in ] There was no let-up in the battle on the money markets yesterday.
leu|kae|mia /lukiː miə/ in AM, use leukemia N‑UNCOUNT Leukaemia is a disease of the blood in which the body produces too many white blood cells.
lev|el ◆◆◆ /le v ə l/ (levels , levelling , levelled ) in AM, use leveling , leveled 1 N‑COUNT A level is a point on a scale, for example a scale of amount, quality, or difficulty. □ If you don't know your cholesterol level, it's a good idea to have it checked. □ [+ of ] We do have the lowest level of inflation for some years. □ [+ of ] The exercises are marked according to their level of difficulty.
2 N‑SING The level of a river, lake, or ocean or the level of liquid in a container is the height of its surface. □ [+ of ] The water level of the Mississippi River is already 6.5 feet below normal. □ The gauge relies upon a sensor in the tank to relay the fuel level.
3 → see also sea level
4 ADJ [ADJ n] In cookery, a level spoonful of a substance such as flour or sugar is an amount that fills the spoon exactly, without going above the top edge. □ Stir in 1 level teaspoon of yeast.
5 N‑SING If something is at a particular level , it is at that height. □ Liz sank down until the water came up to her chin and the bubbles were at eye level.
6 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If one thing is level with another thing, it is at the same height as it. □ [+ with ] He leaned over the counter so his face was almost level with the boy's. □ Amy knelt down so that their eyes were level.
7 ADJ When something is level , it is completely flat with no part higher than any other. □ The floor was level, but the ceiling sloped toward his head. □ …a plateau of fairly level ground.
8 ADV [ADV after v] If you draw level with someone or something, you get closer to them until you are by their side. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ with ] I drew level with the platform and was about to walk past. ● ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Level is also an adjective. □ [+ with ] He waited until they were level with the door before he turned around sharply and punched Graham.
9 VERB If someone or something such as a violent storm levels a building or area of land, they destroy it completely or make it completely flat. □ [V n] The storm was the most powerful to hit Hawaii this century. It leveled sugar plantations and destroyed homes.
10 VERB If an accusation or criticism is levelled at someone, they are accused of doing wrong or they are criticized for something they have done. □ [be V -ed + at/against ] Allegations of corruption were levelled at him and his family. □ [V n + at/against ] He leveled bitter criticism against the U.S. [Also V n]
11 VERB If you level an object at someone or something, you lift it and point it in their direction. □ [V n + at ] He said thousands of Koreans still levelled guns at one another along the demilitarised zone between them. [Also V n]
12 VERB If you level with someone, you tell them the truth and do not keep anything secret. [INFORMAL ] □ [V + with ] I'll level with you. I'm no great detective. I've no training or anything.
13 → see also A level
14 PHRASE If you say that you will do your level best to do something, you are emphasizing that you will try as hard as you can to do it, even if the situation makes it very difficult. [EMPHASIS ] □ The President told American troops that he would do his level best to bring them home soon.
15 a level playing field → see playing field
▸ level off or level out
1 PHRASAL VERB If a changing number or amount levels off or levels out , it stops increasing or decreasing at such a fast speed. □ [V P ] The figures show evidence that murders in the nation's capital are beginning to level off. □ [V P prep] Inflation is finally levelling out at around 11% a month.
2 PHRASAL VERB If an aircraft levels off or levels out , it travels horizontally after having been travelling in an upwards or downwards direction. □ [V P ] The aircraft levelled out at about 30,000 feet.