li|censed /la I s ə nst/
1 ADJ [oft ADJ to-inf] If you are licensed to do something, you have official permission from the government or from the authorities to do it. □ There were about 250 people on board, about 100 more than the ferry was licensed to carry. □ …a licensed doctor.
2 ADJ If something that you own or use is licensed , you have official permission to own it or use it. □ While searching the house they discovered an unlicensed shotgun and a licensed rifle.
3 ADJ If a place such as a restaurant or hotel is licensed , it has been given a licence to sell alcoholic drinks. [BRIT ] □ …licensed premises.
li|cen|see /la I s ə nsiː / (licensees )
1 N‑COUNT A licensee is a person or organization that has been given a licence. [FORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A licensee is someone who has been given a licence to sell alcoholic drinks, for example in a pub. [BRIT ]
li |cense num|ber (license numbers ) N‑COUNT The license number of a car or other road vehicle is the series of letters and numbers that are shown at the front and back of it. [AM ] in BRIT, use registration number
li |cense plate (license plates ) N‑COUNT A license plate is a sign on the front and back of a vehicle that shows its license number. [AM ] in BRIT, use number plate
li |cens|ing laws N‑PLURAL In Britain, the licensing laws are the laws which control the selling of alcoholic drinks.
li|cen|tious /la I se ntʃəs/ ADJ If you describe a person as licentious , you mean that they are very immoral, especially in their sexual behaviour. [FORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …alarming stories of licentious behaviour. ● li|cen|tious|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …moral licentiousness.
li|chen /la I kən/ (lichens ) N‑VAR Lichen is a group of tiny plants that looks like moss and grows on the surface of things such as rocks, trees, and walls.
lick /l I k/ (licks , licking , licked )
1 VERB When people or animals lick something, they move their tongue across its surface. □ [V n] The dog rose awkwardly to his feet and licked the man's hand excitedly. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Lick is also a noun. □ [+ of ] Kevin wanted a lick of Sarah's lollipop.
2 to lick your lips → see lip
3 to lick into shape → see shape
lick|ing /l I k I ŋ/ (lickings ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A licking is a severe defeat by someone in a fight, battle, or competition. □ They gave us a hell of a licking.
lico|rice /l I kər I ʃ, - I s/ in BRIT, also use liquorice N‑UNCOUNT Licorice is a firm black substance with a strong taste. It is used for making sweets.
lid /l I d/ (lids )
1 N‑COUNT A lid is the top of a box or other container which can be removed or raised when you want to open the container.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your lids are the pieces of skin which cover your eyes when you close them. □ A dull pain began to throb behind his lids.
3 N‑SING If you say that someone is keeping the lid on an activity or a piece of information, you mean that they are restricting the activity or are keeping the information secret. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ on ] The soldiers' presence seemed to keep a lid on the violence. □ [+ on ] Their finance ministry is still trying to put a lid on the long-simmering securities scandal.
lid|ded /l I d I d/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Lidded is used to describe a container that has a lid. □ …a lidded saucepan.
2 ADJ When someone has lidded eyes, their eyelids are partly or fully closed. [LITERARY ] □ Julie squinted at her through lidded eyes.
lido /liː doʊ/ (lidos ) N‑COUNT A lido is an outdoor swimming pool or a part of a beach which is used by the public for swimming or water sports. [mainly BRIT ]
lie
➊ POSITION OR SITUATION
➋ THINGS THAT ARE NOT TRUE
➊ lie ◆◆◇ /la I / (lies , lying , lay , lain )
→ Please look at categories 11 to 13 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If you are lying somewhere, you are in a horizontal position and are not standing or sitting. □ [V prep/adv] There was a child lying on the ground. □ [V adj] He lay awake watching her for a long time.
2 VERB If an object lies in a particular place, it is in a flat position in that place. □ [V prep/adv] …a newspaper lying on a nearby couch. □ [V adj] Broken glass lay scattered on the carpet.
3 VERB If you say that a place lies in a particular position or direction, you mean that it is situated there. □ [V prep/adv] The islands lie at the southern end of the Kurile chain.
4 V‑LINK You can use lie to say that something is or remains in a particular state or condition. For example, if something lies forgotten , it has been and remains forgotten. □ [V adj] The picture lay hidden in the archives for over 40 years. □ [V prep] His country's economy lies in ruins.
5 VERB You can use lie to say what position a competitor or team is in during a competition. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V ord] I was going well and was lying fourth. □ [V + in ] She is lying in second place.
6 VERB You can talk about where something such as a problem, solution, or fault lies to say what you think it consists of, involves, or is caused by. □ [V prep/adv] The problem lay in the large amounts spent on defence.
7 VERB You use lie in expressions such as lie ahead , lie in store , and lie in wait when you are talking about what someone is going to experience in the future, especially when it is something unpleasant or difficult. □ [V prep/adv] She'd need all her strength and bravery to cope with what lay in store. □ [V prep/adv] The President's most serious challenges lie ahead.