800
that says unfairly bad things about a person and may make
others have a low opinion of him or her. Libel usually
concerns famous people who may then go to court to clear
their name. 2 [U] the making of such a libel: *The politician
is suing the magazine for libel.* | a *libel action* → compare
SLANDER¹ 3 [C[on]] *infml* an unfair or untrue remark, descrip-
tion of someone etc: *a libel on my character*
**libel²** *v* -ll- *BrE* || -l- *AmE* [T] to make a libel against; DEFAME: *He
claims he has been libelled in the press.*
**li·bel·lous** *BrE* || **-bel·ous** *AmE* /'laɪbələs/ *adj* being or con-
taining a libel: *a libellous allegation* →**-ly** *adv*
**Lib·e·ra·ce** /ˌlɪbə'rɑːtʃi/ (1919-87) a US piano player and
entertainer, who played well-known CLASSICAL piano music
on stage and on his own television programme. He was
known for wearing clothes that were amusing because they
looked so expensive and there were so many decorations on
them, and there was always a decorated CANDLE holder on
his piano.
**lib·er·al¹** /'lɪbərəl/ *adj* **1** willing to understand and respect
the ideas and feelings of others: *a liberal mind/thinker* | a
*liberal-minded person* **2** supporting or allowing some
change, e.g. in political or religious affairs: *The Church has
become more liberal in this century.* | a *liberal foreign policy* →
compare REACTIONARY **3** encouraging or leading to a wide
general knowledge, wide possibilities for self-expression, and
respect for other people's opinions: *a liberal educa-
tion* **4** giving freely and generously: *a liberal supporter of
the hospital* **5** given freely; large: *a liberal supply of
drinks* **6** neither close nor very exact: *a liberal interpreta-
tion of a rule* →**-ly** *adv*
**liberal²** *n* a person with liberal opinions or principles
**Liberal** *n* **1** in the UK, a member or supporter of the former
LIBERAL PARTY or the LIBERAL DEMOCRATS **2** a member or
supporter of a Liberal party in another country, for example
Australia or Canada →**Liberal** *adj:* *Liberal voters*
**ˌliberal 'arts** *n* [P] *especially AmE* the areas of learning which
develop the ability to think and reason, as well as general
knowledge, rather than technical skills which prepare one for
a particular job. The liberal arts include PHILOSOPHY lan-
guages, literature, history, MATHEMATICS, and science. →
compare LIBERAL STUDIES and see also HUMANITIES
**ˌLiberal 'Democrat** also **Lib Dem** *infml* — *n* a member of
the Liberal Democrats
**ˌLiberal 'Democrats, the** also **the Lib Dems** *infml* the
third largest political party in the UK, which was formed in
1988 when the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party
joined together. The Liberal Democrats oppose the RIGHT-
WING policies of the Conservative Party, and strongly sup-
port free public education and the National Health Service.
They also believe that more political power should be given
to people in their own local areas, and that the British
voting system should be changed by using a system of
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.
**lib·er·al·ism** /'lɪbərəlɪzəm/ *n* [U] *(sometimes cap.)* liberal opin-
ions or principles, especially with regard to social and
political matters
**lib·er·al·i·ty** /ˌlɪbə'rælɪti/ *n* **1** [U] also **lib·er·al·ness**
/'lɪbərəlnəs/ *fml* **a)** generosity **b)** respect for other people's
opinions **2** [C] *old use* a gift given generously
**lib·er·al·ize** also **-ise** *BrE* /'lɪbərəlaɪz/ *v* [T] to make liberal or
more liberal, especially by the removal of limits on freedom:
*The divorce laws have been liberalized in recent years.*
→**-ization** /ˌlɪbərəlaɪ'zeɪʃən||-rəl-/ *n* [U]
**'Liberal ,Party, the** **1** one of the two main political parties
in the UK during the 19th century and until World War I.
When the LABOUR PARTY started to become popular during
the 1920s, the Liberal Party lost a lot of its support. It
continued as a less important party until, in 1988, it joined
with the Social Democratic Party to form the Liberal Demo-
crats. **2** any political party that has liberal ideas and princi-
ples. There are Liberal Parties in several countries, including
Australia and Canada.
**'liberal ,studies** *n* [P] *especially BrE* subjects that are taught in
order to increase general knowledge and the ability to write,
speak, and study more effectively, especially when taught to
older students in addition to their main subjects → compare
LIBERAL ARTS
**lib·e·rate** /'lɪbəreɪt/ *v* **1** [T[from]] *fml* to set free (from control,
prison, duty etc): *The new government has liberated all the
political prisoners.* **2** *slang, especially AmE* to steal →**-rator** *n*
→**-ration** /ˌlɪbə'reɪʃən/ *n* [U]
**lib·e·rat·ed** /'lɪbəreɪtɪd/ *adj* **1** having or showing freedom
of action in social and sexual matters: *a liberated woman* |
*liberated attitudes* **2** (of an area or country) freed from OCCU-
PATION of a foreign army or government: *liberated Kuwait*
**libe'ration the,ology** *n* [U] religious teaching, especially in
Roman Catholic countries in South America, which places
special importance on the need to improve people's social
conditions and give them political freedom
**Li·be·ri·a** /laɪ'bəriə/ a country in West Africa on the Atlantic
Ocean, next to Sierra Leone. Population: 3,317,176 (2003).
Capital: Monrovia. The modern country of Liberia was estab-
lished in 1822 as a place for black SLAVES from the southern
US to go and settle after they had been made free. There was
a CIVIL WAR in Liberia from 1989 to 1997, and in 2003
President Charles Taylor was forced to leave the country.
Officially, Liberia has the world's largest MERCHANT NAVY
(=ships used for business, not for military purposes). This is
because many ships from all over the world are officially
REGISTERED in Liberia, where the rules for ships, for example
regarding safety standards, are less strict than in most other
countries. → see also FLAG OF CONVENIENCE →**Liberian** *n*,
*adj:* *a Liberian-registered oil tanker*
**lib·er·tar·i·an** /ˌlɪbə'teəriən ǁ -ber-/ *n* a person who
believes that people should be free to express their opinions,
to have whatever religion they wish etc without any govern-
ment controls →**libertarian** *adj*
**lib·er·tine** /'lɪbətiːn||-ər-/ *n* a person who leads an unusual
or immoral life, especially one who continually looks for
pleasure
**lib·er·ty** /'lɪbəti||-ər-/ *n* **1** [U] *especially lit* the state of being free
from conditions that limit one's actions, so that one can do
what one likes without the permission of others; freedom:
*The tyrant's oppressed subjects cry out for their liberty.* | *prison-
ers dreaming of liberty* (=of being set free from prison) →
compare FREEDOM **2** [C;U] *fml* the right or permission to do or
use something **3** [S] too much freedom in speech or behav-
iour, taken without permission and sometimes regarded as
rude: (*fml*) (used to say sorry or as an excuse) *I took the liberty
of reading this letter, even though it was addressed to you.* | (*BrE
infml*) 'Whenever he needs a car he just takes mine, without
asking whether I mind.' '*What a liberty!*' **4** at liberty: **a)** free
from prison, control etc **b)** *fml* having permission or the right
(to do something): *I'm afraid I am not at liberty to discuss this
matter.* **5** liberty, equality, fraternity a phrase used during
the French Revolution **6** take liberties (with): **a)** to behave
in a rude, too friendly way (towards someone, especially a
woman) **b)** to make unreasonable changes in (a piece of
writing, history etc): *He may not tell lies, but he does often take
liberties with the truth.* (=say things that are not completely
true) → see also CIVIL LIBERTY, STATUE OF LIBERTY
**Liberty** an independent British organization which aims to
defend and increase the rights of ordinary citizens. Before it
changed its name in 1988, Liberty was called the National
Council for Civil Liberties.
**'Liberty ,Bell, the** a bell,
kept in Philadelphia, in the
US state of Pennsylvania,
which was rung on July 8th,
1776, during the AMERICAN
REVOLUTIONARY WAR to tell
people of the DECLARATION
OF INDEPENDENCE from Brit-
ain. Because of this, the bell
became a SYMBOL of liberty
for the US. In 1846 it
cracked when it was rung to
celebrate the birthday of
George WASHINGTON, and it
could not be repaired.
**the Liberty Bell**
**ˌLiberty 'Island** the small island in New York Harbor where
the Statue of Liberty stands
**Lib·er·ty's** /'lɪbətiz||-ər-/ also **Liberty** *trademark* a famous
DEPARTMENT STORE in central London which sells clothes
and things for the home, but is best known for its beautiful