▸ level out → see level off
le v|el cro ss|ing (level crossings ) N‑COUNT A level crossing is a place where a railway line crosses a road. [BRIT ] in AM, use grade crossing , railroad crossing
le vel-hea ded ADJ If you describe a person as level-headed , you mean that they are calm and sensible even in difficult situations. □ Simon is level-headed and practical. □ His level-headed approach suggests he will do what is necessary.
lev|el|ler /le vələ r / (levellers ) in AM, use leveler N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft adj N ] If you describe something as a leveller , you mean that it makes all people seem the same, in spite of their differences in, for example, age or social status. □ The computer is a leveller, making information available to everyone.
le v|el pe g|ging also level-pegging ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If two opponents in a competition or contest are level pegging , they are equal with each other. [BRIT ] □ [+ with ] An opinion poll published in May showed Mrs Yardley was level-pegging with Mr Simpson.
lev|er /liː və r , [AM ALSO ] le v-/ (levers , levering , levered )
1 N‑COUNT A lever is a handle or bar that is attached to a piece of machinery and which you push or pull in order to operate the machinery. □ [+ on ] Push the tiny lever on the lock. □ The taps have a lever to control the mix of hot and cold water.
2 → see also gear lever
3 N‑COUNT A lever is a long bar, one end of which is placed under a heavy object so that when you press down on the other end you can move the object.
4 VERB If you lever something in a particular direction, you move it there, especially by using a lot of effort. □ [V n with adj] Neighbours eventually levered open the door with a crowbar. □ [V n adv/prep] Insert the fork about 6in. from the root and simultaneously lever it backwards. [Also V , V n]
5 N‑COUNT A lever is an idea or action that you can use to make people do what you want them to do, rather than what they want to do. □ He may use money as a lever to control and manipulate her.
lev|er|age /liː vər I dʒ, [AM ] le v-/ (leverages , leveraging , leveraged )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Leverage is the ability to influence situations or people so that you can control what happens. □ His function as a Mayor affords him the leverage to get things done through attending committee meetings.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Leverage is the force that is applied to an object when something such as a lever is used. □ The spade and fork have longer shafts, providing better leverage.
3 VERB To leverage a company or investment means to use borrowed money in order to buy it or pay for it. [BUSINESS ] □ [V n] Leveraging the company at a time of tremendous growth opportunities would be a mistake. ● lev|er|aged ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ The committee voted to limit tax refunds for corporations involved in leveraged buyouts.
le|via|than /l I va I əθən/ (leviathans ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A leviathan is something which is extremely large and difficult to control, and which you find rather frightening. [LITERARY ] □ Democracy survived the Civil War and the developing industrial leviathan and struggled on into the twentieth century.
Levi's /liː va I z/ also Levis N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Levi's are jeans. [TRADEMARK ]
levi|tate /le v I te I t/ (levitates , levitating , levitated ) VERB If someone or something levitates , they appear to rise and float in the air without any support from other people or objects. □ [V ] He has claimed he can levitate. □ [V n] Nina can, apparently, levitate a small ball between her hands. ● levi|ta|tion /le v I te I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ …such magical powers as levitation, prophecy, and healing.
lev|ity /le v I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT Levity is behaviour that shows a tendency to treat serious matters in a non-serious way. [LITERARY ] □ At the time, Arnold had disapproved of such levity.
levy /le vi/ (levies , levying , levied )
1 N‑COUNT A levy is a sum of money that you have to pay, for example as a tax to the government. □ [+ on ] …an annual motorway levy on all drivers.
2 VERB If a government or organization levies a tax or other sum of money, it demands it from people or organizations. □ [V n + on ] They levied religious taxes on Christian commercial transactions. □ [V n] Taxes should not be levied without the authority of Parliament.
lewd /ljuː d, [AM ] luː d/ ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour as lewd , you are critical of it because it is sexual in a rude and unpleasant way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Drew spends all day eyeing up the women and making lewd comments. ● lewd|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ The critics condemned the play for lewdness.
lexi|cal /le ks I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Lexical means relating to the words of a language. □ We chose a few of the commonest lexical items in the languages.
lexi|cog|ra|phy /le ks I kɒ grəfi/ N‑UNCOUNT Lexicography is the activity or profession of writing dictionaries. ● lexi|cog|ra|pher (lexicographers ) N‑COUNT □ A lexicographer's job is to describe the language.
lexi|con /le ks I kən/ (lexicons )
1 N‑SING The lexicon of a particular subject is all the terms associated with it. The lexicon of a person or group is all the words they commonly use. □ [+ of ] …the lexicon of management. □ Chocolate equals sin in most people's lexicon.
2 N‑COUNT A lexicon is an alphabetical list of the words in a language or the words associated with a particular subject.