12 PHRASE If you throw in your lot with a particular person or group, you decide to work with them and support them from then on, whatever happens. □ He has decided to throw in his lot with the far-right groups in parliament.
loth /loʊ θ/ → see loath
lo|tion /loʊ ʃ ə n/ (lotions ) N‑VAR [usu n N ] A lotion is a liquid that you use to clean, improve, or protect your skin or hair. □ …suntan lotion. □ …cleansing lotions.
lot|tery /lɒ təri/ (lotteries )
1 N‑COUNT A lottery is a type of gambling game in which people buy numbered tickets. Several numbers are then chosen, and the people who have those numbers on their tickets win a prize. □ …the national lottery.
2 N‑SING If you describe something as a lottery , you mean that what happens depends entirely on luck or chance. □ Which judges are assigned to a case is always a bit of a lottery.
lo|tus /loʊ təs/ (lotuses ) N‑COUNT A lotus or a lotus flower is a type of water lily that grows in Africa and Asia.
lo |tus po|si|tion N‑SING If someone doing meditation or yoga is in the lotus position , they are sitting with their legs crossed and each foot resting on top of the opposite thigh.
louche /luː ʃ/ ADJ If you describe a person or place as louche , you mean that they are unconventional and not respectable, but often in a way that people find rather attractive. [WRITTEN ] □ …that section of London society which somehow managed to be louche and fashionable at the same time.
loud ◆◇◇ /laʊ d/ (louder , loudest )
1 ADJ If a noise is loud , the level of sound is very high and it can be easily heard. Someone or something that is loud produces a lot of noise. □ Suddenly there was a loud bang. □ His voice became harsh and loud. □ The band was starting to play a fast, loud number. □ …amazingly loud discos. ● ADV [ADV after v] Loud is also an adverb. □ She wonders whether Paul's hearing is OK because he turns the television up very loud. ● loud|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ His footsteps echoed loudly in the tiled hall. ● loud|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ The students began to enter the classroom and Anna was startled at their loudness.
2 ADJ If someone is loud in their support for or criticism of something, they express their opinion very often and in a very strong way. □ [+ in ] Mr Adams' speech yesterday was very loud in condemnation of the media. □ Mr Jones received loud support from his local community. ● loud|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Mac talked loudly in favour of the good works done by the Church.
3 ADJ If you describe something, especially a piece of clothing, as loud , you dislike it because it has very bright colours or very large, bold patterns which look unpleasant. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He liked to shock with his gold chains and loud clothes.
4 PHRASE If you tell someone something loud and clear , you are very easily understood, either because your voice is very clear or because you express yourself very clearly. □ Lisa's voice comes through loud and clear. □ The committee's warnings should be heard loud and clear.
5 PHRASE If you say or read something out loud , you say it or read it so that it can be heard, rather than just thinking it. □ Even Ford, who seldom smiled, laughed out loud a few times. □ He began to read out loud.
6 for crying out loud → see cry SYNONYMS loud ADJ 1
noisy: …my noisy old typewriter.
deafening: …the deafening roar of fighter jets taking off.
ear-splitting: …ear-splitting screams.
loud|hail|er /laʊ dhe I lə r / (loudhailers ) also loud-hailer N‑COUNT A loudhailer is a portable device with a microphone at one end and a cone-shaped speaker at the other end, used to make your voice heard more easily outdoors. [BRIT ] in AM, use bullhorn
loud|mouth /laʊ dmaʊθ/ (loudmouths /laʊ dmaʊðz/) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a loudmouth , you are critical of them because they talk a lot, especially in an unpleasant, offensive, or stupid way. [DISAPPROVAL ]
lou d-mouthed ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe someone as loud-mouthed , you are critical of them because they talk a lot, especially in an unpleasant, offensive, or stupid way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a loud-mouthed oaf with very little respect for women.
loud|speaker /laʊ dspiː kə r / (loudspeakers ) also loud speaker N‑COUNT A loudspeaker is a piece of equipment, for example part of a radio or hi-fi system, through which sound comes out.
lounge /laʊ ndʒ/ (lounges , lounging , lounged )
1 N‑COUNT In a house, a lounge is a room where people sit and relax. [mainly BRIT ] □ The Holmbergs were sitting before a roaring fire in the lounge, sipping their cocoa.
2 N‑COUNT In a hotel, club, or other public place, a lounge is a room where people can sit and relax. □ [+ of ] I spoke to her in the lounge of a big Johannesburg hotel where she was attending a union meeting.
3 N‑COUNT In an airport, a lounge is a very large room where people can sit and wait for aircraft to arrive or leave. □ Instead of taking me to the departure lounge they took me right to my seat on the plane.
4 VERB If you lounge somewhere, you sit or lie there in a relaxed or lazy way. □ [V prep] They ate and drank and lounged in the shade.
louse /laʊ s/ (lice ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Lice are small insects that live on the bodies of people or animals and bite them in order to feed off their blood.
lousy /laʊ zi/ (lousier , lousiest )
1 ADJ If you describe something as lousy , you mean that it is of very bad quality or that you do not like it. [INFORMAL ] □ He blamed Fiona for a lousy weekend. □ [+ to-inf] It's lousy to be the new kid.