luxury
836
adj 1 very fine and expensive: a luxurious fur coat 2 providing the greatest comfort: She took a long luxurious hot bath.
—ly adv
**lux·u·ry** /'lʌkʃəri/ n 1 [U] a condition of great comfort provided without any consideration of the cost: They led a life of luxury. | a luxury hotel 2 [C] something that is very pleasant and enjoyable, but not necessary and not often had or done: Cream cakes are a luxury in our house. | We can't afford to spend money on luxuries. | Luxury items are heavily taxed. | It's a real luxury to be able to stay in bed instead of getting up for school.**
**LV** /ˌel 'viː/ *written abbrev.* for LUNCHEON VOUCHER
**LVN** /ˌel viː 'en/ *n AmE written abbrev.* for Licensed Vocational Nurse ➔ see LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE
**LW** *written abbrev.* for LONG WAVE
**-ly** ➔ see WORD FORMATION TABLE
**ly·can·thro·py** /laɪ'kænθrəpi/ *n* [U] in stories, the condition of changing from a person into a WOLF (=wild dog) especially at the time of the full moon ➔ see also WEREWOLF
**ly·cée** /ˌliːseɪˈliːseɪ/ *n* a French school for older pupils, either in France or for French children abroad
**ly·ce·um** /laɪ'siːəm/ *n AmE old-fash* a building used for public speeches, concerts, meetings etc
**ly·chee, litchi** /'laɪtʃiː/ *n* an Asian fruit with a hard rough nutlike shell and sweet white flesh that contains a single seed ➔ see picture at FRUIT
**lych·gate** /'lɪtʃgeɪt/ *n* a gate with a roof leading into the grounds of a church
**Ly·cra** /'laɪkrə/ *trademark* a material that stretches, used especially for making tight-fitting sports clothes
**ly·ing¹** /'laɪ-ɪŋ/ *present participle* of LIE
**lying²** *present participle* of LIE
**,ly·ing-'in** *n* [C usually sing.] *old* use the period during which a woman remains in bed before the birth of a child; CONFINEMENT
**,ly·ing in 'state** *n* [S] the period of showing of the dead body, or the COFFIN containing it, of a famous and important person so that people may come and show their respect. In Western countries only very important people lie in state.
**Lyle, Sandy** /laɪl/ (1958-) a British golfer who won the Open Championship in 1985 and the US Masters in 1988
**Lyme dis·ease** /ˌlaɪm dɪˈziːz/ *n* [U] a dangerous illness caused by the bite of a TICK (=small creature like an insect). Lyme disease attacks various parts of the body, including the eyes, the bones, and the heart, and it is very difficult to cure if it is not treated before it develops.
**Lyme Re·gis** /ˌlaɪm 'riːdʒs/ a town in Dorset on the south coast of England, known for its FOSSILS (=ancient plants and animals preserved in rock), and for being a fashionable place for people to visit in the 19th century. It is still a popular place for British people to go to on holiday.
**lymph** /lɪmf/ *n* [U] a clear watery liquid formed in the body which passes into the blood system
**lym·phat·ic** /lɪm'fætɪk/ *adj* connected with, producing, or containing lymph
**'lymph ,gland** also **'lymph node** *n* a fleshy area in the body through which lymph passes to be made pure before entering the blood system
**Ly·nam, Des·mond** /'laɪnəm, 'dezmənd/ (1942-) a British television PRESENTER of sports programmes, known for his relaxed and informal manner
**lynch** /lɪntʃ/ *v* [T] (especially of a crowd of people) to take hold of (a person thought to be guilty of a crime) and kill them, especially by hanging, without a legal trial
**CULTURAL NOTE** Many people think of lynching in the context of the American Wild West and with the illegal killing of African Americans in the South by the Ku Klux Klan or a MOB.
**Lynch, Bet** a character who used to appear in the popular British television programme CORONATION STREET, and known as Bet Gilroy after she got married. She is what many people think of as a typical BARMAID (=a woman who serves drinks in a bar). She had BLOND hair and large breasts, and wore a lot of MAKE-UP and very large earrings.
**Lynch, David** (1946-), a US film DIRECTOR, well-known for unusual films, such as *The Elephant Man* (1980), *Blue Velvet* (1986) and *Mulholland Dr.* (2001). He also made the CULT television programme *Twin Peaks* (1989).
**'lynch law** *n* [U] the