limitation
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lim·i·ta·tion /ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən/ n 1 [U] the fact or condition of
limiting or being limited 2 [C usually pl.] something that
limits; the limit beyond which no more can be done: I won't
even try to fix the car myself; I know my limitations as a
mechanic. | It's a good little car, but it has its limitations.
(=cannot do as much as a bigger or more powerful one)
lim·it·ed /ˈlɪmɪtɪd/ adj 1 [(to)] not very great in amount,
power etc, and not able to increase or improve; having
limits or limitations: a student of rather limited
ability/intelligence | Seating is limited to 500. | limited
resources/funds | a limited edition of a book (=with only a
certain number printed) → opposites UNLIMITED, LIMIT-
LESS 2 abbrev. Ltd [A;after n] BrE (of a company) having
limited liability: J. Marsh and Sons Limited → compare INC,
PLC
,limited 'company also ,limited-lia'bility ,company n
a company whose owners only have to pay a limited
amount if the company gets into debt
,limited e'dition n copies of a book, picture etc made at one
time and limited to a certain number so that the quality will
be good and the value may increase
,limited lia'bility n [C;U] tech the legal duty to pay back
debts only up to the limit of the money owned (by a
company): a limited-liability company → see also LIMITED
COMPANY
,limited-overs 'cricket n ONE-DAY CRICKET
lim·it·ing /ˈlɪmɪtɪŋ/ adj which prevents improvement,
increase etc: A limiting factor in health care is lack of doctors.
lim·it·less /ˈlɪmɪtləs/ adj without limit or end: limitless
possibilities —ly adv —ness n [U]
limn /lɪm/ v [T] old use 1 to describe 2 to paint or draw
Li-moges /lɪˈmoʊʒ/ a city in west central France, where fine
PORCELAIN cups, plates etc are made
lim·ou·sine /ˌlɪməˈziːn, ˌlɪməˈziːn/ also lim·o /ˈlɪmoʊ/ infml
→ n a big expensive comfortable car → see also STRETCH
LIMO
limp¹ /lɪmp/ v [I] 1 to walk with an uneven step, one foot or
leg moving less well than the other 2 derog (of speech,
music, poetry etc) to have an uneven pattern
limp² n [S] a limping way of walking: to walk with/have a
limp
limp³ adj derog lacking strength or stiffness: I like lettuce to be
crisp, not limp and soggy. | a limp handshake —ly adv
—ness n [U]
lim·pet /ˈlɪmpət/ n a small sea animal with a shell (SHELL-
FISH), which holds on tightly to the rock where it lives: She
clung to his side like a limpet.
lim·pid /ˈlɪmpɪd/ adj especially lit (especially of liquid) clear;
transparent: eyes like limpid pools. —ly adv —ity
/lɪmˈpɪdəti/ n [U]
Lim·po·po, the /lɪmˈpɔːpoʊ/ a river in southern Africa,
which flows from South Africa and through Mozambique to
the Indian Ocean
,limp-'wristed adj derog (of a man) lacking manly forcefulness
lim·y /ˈlaɪmi/ adj covered in or containing LIME: limy soil
Lin, Ma·ya /lɪn, ˈmɑːjə/ (1959–) a Chinese-American woman
who won the competition to design the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Memorial is a black
MARBLE 'V' with all the names of the soldiers who died in
Vietnam on it.
linch·pin /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/ n [(of)] the most important person or
thing in a group, system etc, that other people in the group
etc depend on
Lin·coln¹ /ˈlɪŋkən/ 1 a city in eastern England, well-known
for its CATHEDRAL 2 the capital of the US state of Nebraska
Lincoln² trademark a type of large, expensive US car made by
the FORD company. The Lincoln Continental is one of the
best-known LUXURY cars in the US: The President arrived in
a black Lincoln Continental.
Lincoln, Abraham (1809–
65) a US politician in the
REPUBLICAN PARTY who was
President of the US from
1861 to 1865. He won politi-
cal support in the Northern
US states because of his
speeches against SLAVERY,
but this made him unpopu-
lar in the Southern states,
where slaves did most of the
farm work. The American
CIVIL WAR started soon after
he became President, when
the Southern states decided
to leave the US. In 1863 he
announced the EMANCIPA-
TION PROCLAMATION, by
which all slaves in the US
became free people. He also gave a famous speech known as
the GETTYSBURG ADDRESS in 1863. A few days after the war
ended, he was shot and killed in a theatre by an actor called
John Wilkes BOOTH. Lincoln is considered to be one of the
most important US presidents, and was sometimes called
'Honest Abe' because everyone admired his honesty. His
picture appears on the US five-dollar BILL and on the one-
cent coin.
Abraham Lincoln
'Lincoln ,Center, the also the ,Lincoln ,Center for
the Per,forming 'Arts an important CULTURAL centre in
New York City, consisting of several buildings where plays,
concerts, and OPERAS are performed. It includes the Metro-
politan Opera House and the New York City Ballet.
,Lincoln 'green n [U] (cloth of) a bright green colour
originally made at Lincoln. ROBIN HOOD and his men are said
to have worn this colour.
,Lincoln 'Logs trademark a type of children's toy sold in the
US, consisting of many small pieces of wood that can be
connected together to build a LOG CABIN (=small wooden
house)
,Lincoln Me'morial, the a MARBLE building in Washing-
ton, D.C., which has a large STATUE (=carved stone figure) of
Abraham LINCOLN. There is a picture of the Lincoln Memorial
on the back of the US one-cent coin.
,Lincoln's 'Birthday n [U] the birthday of Abraham Lin-
coln, February 12th, which is an official holiday in many US
states → see also PRESIDENTS' DAY
Lin·coln·shire /ˈlɪŋkənʃər/, written abbrev. Lincs. a COUNTY
in eastern England, on the North Sea coast
,Lincoln's 'Inn one of the Inns of Court in London
,Lincoln 'Tunnel, the a TUNNEL for vehicles under the
Hudson River which connects Weehawken, New Jersey, with
the island of Manhattan, New York City
Lincs. written abbrev. for Lincolnshire
linc·tus /ˈlɪŋktəs/ n [U] BrE liquid medicine to cure coughing
Lind, Jen·ny /lɪnd, ˈdʒɛni/ (1820–87) a Swedish singer known
for her sweet voice and called the 'Swedish NIGHTINGALE'
lin·dane /ˈlɪndeɪn/ n [U] a chemical for killing insects, now
thought dangerous to humans
Lind·bergh, Charles /ˈlɪndbːrɡ-ˌbɜrɡ/ (1902–74) a US
pilot who in 1927 became the first person to fly alone across
the Atlantic Ocean without stopping. He flew from New
York to Paris in his plane called The Spirit of Saint Louis. Later
his baby son was kidnapped (KIDNAP) and murdered.
lin·den /ˈlɪndən/ n poet and AmE a LIME tree
Lin·dis·farne /ˈlɪndɪsfɑrn-ˌfɑrn/ another name for HOLY
ISLAND
,Lindisfarne 'Gospels, the an ILLUMINATED (=with the
pages decorated with gold paint and other bright colours)
copy of the four Christian GOSPELS produced at the end of
the 7th century on the island of Lindisfarne and now kept in
the BRITISH MUSEUM
line¹ /laɪn/ n 1 [C] a long narrow mark (drawn) on a surface:
Do not write below this line. | She drew a wavy line under the
word. | With his finger he traced the curving line of the road on
the map. 2 [C] a) a long mark used as a limit or border: The
British runner was first to cross the finishing line, but was