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lever² v [T+obj+adv/prep] to move (something) with a lever: They levered it into position. | (fig.) They're trying to lever him out of his job as head of the firm.
leverage /'li:vəridʒ||'le-, 'li:-/ n [U] 1 the action, power, or use of a lever: We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock. 2 influence over someone else, especially of an unofficial or irregular kind: She used political leverage to get that top job.
leveraged buy-out /ˌli:vəridʒ 'baɪaʊt||ˌle-, ˌli:-/ n the TAKEOVER of a company, especially by its management, using borrowed money, in the hope or expectation that the interest on the borrowings can be paid out of the profit on the company bought
lev·eret /'levərɪt/ n a young HARE
le·vi·a·than /lɪ'vaɪəθən/ n 1 (in the Bible) a very large and frightening sea animal 2 lit or pomp something very large and strong, especially a large ship or a WHALE (=a large sea animal)
Le·vis /'li:vaɪz/ trademark a popular and fashionable kind of JEANS: a pair of Levis | Do you stock Levis?
lev·i·tate /'levɪteɪt/ v [I,T] to (cause to) rise and float in the air as if by magic. Some MAGICIANS make people appear to levitate as a trick. —tation /ˌlevɪ'teɪʃən/ n [U]
lev·i·ty /'levɪti/ n [U] fml or pomp lack of respect for serious matters; lack of seriousness: This is no time for levity – we have important matters to discuss.
lev·y¹ /'levi/ v [T(on, upon)] to demand and collect officially: to levy a tax on tobacco
levy² n an official demand and collection, especially of a tax: import levies
lewd /lu:d/ adj derog 1 wanting, thinking about, or suggesting thoughts of sex, especially in a way that is not socially acceptable: He gave her a lewd wink. 2 rude; OBSCENE: lewd songs —ly adv —ness n [U]
Lew·in·sky, Mon·i·ca /lu:'ɪnski:, 'mɒnɪkə||'mɑ:n-/ (1973–) a US woman who had a sexual relationship with President Bill Clinton while she was working in the White House as an INTERN (=a young person who does a job for a short time to gain experience)
Lew·is, Carl /'lu:ɪs, ka:l||kɑ:r/ (1961–) a US ATHLETE who won several GOLD MEDALS in the 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games for the LONG JUMP, the 100 and the 200 metres running races, and for the 4 x 100 metre RELAY RACE
Lewis, C. S. (1898–1963) a British writer and university teacher, known for his literary and religious works but especially for his children's stories The Chronicles of Narnia, which include the well-known novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Lewis, Jerry (1926–) a US COMEDIAN on television and in films. He made many films with Dean MARTIN. He is known for playing characters who seem to be very stupid and silly. Lewis has also done a lot of work raising money for an organization that helps children who are ill.
Lewis, Jerry Lee (1935–) an American ROCK 'N' ROLL piano player and singer whose songs include Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On and Great Balls of Fire. In 1957, he secretly married his 13-year-old COUSIN, but when he came to the UK in 1958, the newspapers found out about the marriage and he was forced to stop his concert tour. In 1976 he accidentally shot and injured one of the musicians in his band with a gun. He is known for his exciting way of performing and his NICK-NAME is 'The Killer'.
Lewis, Len·nox /'lenəks/ (1965–) a British BOXER who became world HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION in 1992, 1997, and for a third time in 2001
Lewis, Sinclair (1885–1951) a US writer of novels, best known for MAIN STREET, BABBITT, and Elmer Gantry. He is known for making fun of life in small US towns, and some of his books have been made into films. He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1930.
Lewis and 'Clark two EXPLORERS, Meriwether Lewis (1774–1809) and William Clark (1770–1838), who travelled across North America from 1804 to 1806, going up the Missouri River and over the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast. They drew maps and gathered information about the Native American people who lived there.
lex·i·cal /'leksɪkəl/ adj tech of or about words —ly /kli/ adv
lex·i·cog·ra·phy /ˌleksɪ'kɒgrəfi||-'ka:-/ n [U] the writing and making of dictionaries —pher n
lex·i·col·o·gy /ˌleksɪ'kɒlədʒi||-'ka:-/ n [U] tech the study of the meaning and uses of words
lex·i·con /'leksɪkən||-kɑ:n, -kən/ n 1 a) a dictionary b) a list of words with their meanings 2 tech all the words and phrases used in a particular language
Lex·ing·ton /'leksɪŋtən/ a city in north Kentucky in the US, known for its university and as a place especially where many THOROUGHBRED horses are produced for horse-racing
lex·is /'leksɪs/ n [U] tech all the words that belong to a particular subject or language, or that a particular person knows ➔ compare VOCABULARY
Lexus /'leksəs/ trademark a type of large comfortable car made by TOYOTA, which is often driven by wealthy business people
Ley·land /'leilænd/ trademark a company that makes trucks. It is owned by Paccar.
ley line /'leɪ laɪn, 'li:-/ n BrE a set of easily recognizable objects, e.g. churches, wells etc, following a line thought to be the line of an ancient track. Some people believe ley lines also follow lines of ENERGY.
li·a·bil·i·ty /ˌlaɪə'bɪlɪti/ n 1 [U(for, to)] the condition of being liable: The new law exempts them from all liability in these matters. | Taking extra vitamins may reduce your liability to colds. 2 [C] something for which one is responsible, especially by law: A child is its parents' liability. 3 [C] also liabilities pl. — tech the amount of debt that must be paid: If your liabilities exceed your assets, you may go bankrupt. ➔ compare ASSET; see also CURRENT LIABILITIES, LIMITED LIABILITY 4 [C] infml someone or something that limits one's activities or freedom: This old car's a real liability: I can't use it but I have to pay for somewhere to keep it. ➔ compare ASSET
li·a·ble /'laɪəbəl/ adj 1 [F+to-v] likely, especially from habit or tendency: He's liable to shout when he gets angry. | Be careful, the car is liable to overheat. 2 [F+to] often suffering (from): This part of town is liable to flooding. 3 [F(for)] (legally) responsible for paying (for something): He declared that he was not liable (for his wife's debts). 4 [F+to] likely to be legally punished (with): People who walk on the grass are liable to a fine of £5.
Compare liable and likely. Liable is used when talking about general characteristics: The river is liable to flood in the winter. | This kind of cloth is liable to tear very easily. Likely is used when you think there is a possibility on a particular occasion that something will happen: The bus is likely to be late today because of the bad weather.
li·aise /li'eɪz/ v [I(with)] BrE (especially in the army or in business) to make, have, or keep a connection, especially so that information can be passed: My job is to liaise with foreign clients.
li·ai·son /li'eɪzɒn||'lia:zn, li'eɪ-/ n [{with, between}] 1 [S,U] a working association or connection, especially so that each side is well informed about what the other is doing: close liaison between the army and the police | a liaison officer 2 [C] euph a sexual relationship between a man and a woman not married to each other
li·a·na /li'ɑ:nə, li'ænə/ n (a long climbing stem of) a woody tropical plant that climbs round trees, up walls etc
li·ar /'laɪər/ n a person who tells lies
lib /lɪb/ n [U] infml, becoming old-fash (a movement for) social equality and the removal of disadvantages suffered by particular social groups (especially in the phrases women's lib, gay lib) —ber n usu derog: The women's libbers are trying to get into this men's club.
Lib BrE written abbrev. for LIBERAL³ —Lib adj
li·ba·tion /laɪ'beɪʃən/ n 1 an offering of wine to a god, especially in ancient Greece and Rome 2 pomp or humor a drink of wine or other alcohol
Lib·by's /'lɪbiz/ trademark a type of canned fruit, made by the company Libby's, which also makes other types of food products in cans
Lib Dem /ˌlɪb 'demɪ/ n [C] BrE abbrev. for LIBERAL DEMOCRAT —Lib Dem adj
li·bel¹ /'laɪbəl/ n 1 [C(on)] law a printed or written statement