▸ lumber with PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If you are lumbered with someone or something, you have to deal with them or take care of them even though you do not want to and this annoys you. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ [be V -ed + with ] I was lumbered with the job of taking charge of all the money. □ [be V -ed + with ] She was lumbered with a bill for about ninety pounds.
lumber|jack /lʌ mbə r dʒæk/ (lumberjacks ) N‑COUNT A lumberjack is a person whose job is to cut down trees.
lumber|man /lʌ mbə r mən/ (lumbermen ) N‑COUNT A lumberman is a man who sells timber. [AM ]
lumber|yard /lʌ mbə r jɑː r d/ (lumberyards ) also lumber yard N‑COUNT A lumberyard is a place where wood is stored and sold. [AM ] in BRIT, use timber yard
lu|mi|nary /luː m I nəri, [AM ] -neri/ (luminaries ) N‑COUNT If you refer to someone as a luminary , you mean that they are an expert in a particular subject or activity. [LITERARY ] □ …the political opinions of such luminaries as Sartre or de Beauvoir.
lu|mi|nes|cence /luː m I ne s ə ns/ N‑UNCOUNT Luminescence is a soft, glowing light. [LITERARY ] □ Lights reflected off dust-covered walls creating a ghostly luminescence.
lu|mi|nos|ity /luː m I nɒ s I ti/
1 N‑UNCOUNT The luminosity of a star or sun is how bright it is. [TECHNICAL ] □ …the present-day luminosity of the Sun.
2 N‑UNCOUNT You can talk about the luminosity of someone's skin when it has a healthy glow. □ Rosy powder gives the skin warmth and luminosity.
lu|mi|nous /luː m I nəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is luminous shines or glows in the dark. □ The luminous dial on the clock showed five minutes to seven.
lump /lʌ mp/ (lumps , lumping , lumped )
1 N‑COUNT A lump of something is a solid piece of it. □ [+ of ] The potter shaped and squeezed the lump of clay into a graceful shape. □ [+ of ] …a lump of wood. □ They used to buy ten kilos of meat in one lump.
2 N‑COUNT A lump on or in someone's body is a small, hard swelling that has been caused by an injury or an illness. □ [+ on ] I've got a lump on my shoulder. □ [+ in ] Howard had to have cancer surgery for a lump in his chest.
3 N‑COUNT A lump of sugar is a small cube of it. □ 'No sugar,' I said, and Jim asked for two lumps.
4 → see also sugar lump
5 → see also lump sum
6 PHRASE If you say that you have a lump in your throat , you mean that you have a tight feeling in your throat because of a strong emotion such as sorrow or gratitude. □ I stood there with a lump in my throat and tried to fight back tears.
▸ lump together PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If a number of different people or things are lumped together , they are considered as a group rather than separately. □ [be V -ed P ] Police officers, bankers and butchers are all lumped together in the service sector. □ [be V -ed P + with ] They are lumped together with the troublemakers and basically written off.
lum|pec|to|my /lʌmpe ktəmi/ (lumpectomies ) N‑COUNT A lumpectomy is an operation in which a woman has a lump such as a tumour removed from one of her breasts, rather than having the whole breast removed.
lump|en /lʌ mpən/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A lumpen object is large, heavy, and lumpy. [mainly BRIT , LITERARY ] □ She was kneading a lumpen mass of dough. □ Lumpen shapes began to appear out of the shadows.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe people as lumpen , you think they are dull and clumsy. [mainly BRIT , LITERARY , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The people seemed lumpen and boring.
lu mp sum (lump sums ) N‑COUNT A lump sum is an amount of money that is paid as a large amount on a single occasion rather than as smaller amounts on several separate occasions. □ [+ of ] …a tax-free lump sum of £50,000 at retirement age.
lumpy /lʌ mpi/ (lumpier , lumpiest ) ADJ Something that is lumpy contains lumps or is covered with lumps. □ When the rice isn't cooked properly it goes lumpy and gooey.
lu|na|cy /luː nəsi/
1 N‑UNCOUNT If you describe someone's behaviour as lunacy , you mean that it seems very strange or foolish. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …the lunacy of the tax system. □ It remains lunacy to produce yet more coal to add to power stations' stockpiles.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Lunacy is severe mental illness. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
lu|nar /luː nə r / ADJ [ADJ n] Lunar means relating to the moon. □ The vast volcanic slope was eerily reminiscent of a lunar landscape. □ …a magazine article celebrating the anniversary of man's first lunar landing.
lu|na|tic /luː nət I k/ (lunatics )
1 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a lunatic , you think they behave in a dangerous, stupid, or annoying way. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Her son thinks she's an absolute raving lunatic.
2 ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour or ideas as lunatic , you think they are very foolish and possibly dangerous. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the operation of the market taken to lunatic extremes. □ …a country spurned until now by all except the more lunatic of journalists and adventurers.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe a place or situation as lunatic , you mean that it is confused and seems out of control. □ He pleads for sanity in a lunatic world.