launderette
784
(clothes, sheets etc): We must have these bedclothes laundered. 2 informal to give (something, especially money obtained illegally) the appearance of being legal
laun·der·ette, laun·drette /lɒnˈdret/ especially BrE || also laun·dro·mat /ˈlɒndrəmæt/ trademark especially AmE — n a shop where the public can wash their clothes in machines that work when coins are put in them
laun·dry /ˈlɒndri/ n 1 [C] a place or business where clothes etc are washed and ironed 2 [U] clothes, sheets etc that need to be washed or have just been laundered: There's a lot of laundry in the basket.
'laundry ,basket also linen basket also hamper AmE — n a large basket in which dirty clothing, sheets etc are carried or put ready for washing
'laundry ,list n AmE informal a list of things one needs: The Pentagon presented Congress with a laundry list of new weapons.
Lau·ra Ash·ley /ˌlɔːrə ˈæʃli/ trademark a shop which sells women's clothes, as well as things for decorating the home, such as curtains, WALLPAPER, and material for covering chairs. Laura Ashley materials are usually made of cotton and often have delicate patterns with small flowers, and are often similar to clothes worn by people who lived in the countryside in the past. The company was started by Laura ASHLEY.
Lau·ra·sia /lɔːˈreɪʃə-ˈreɪʒə/ the very large area of land that existed about 200 million years ago, before it broke apart to form North America, Europe, Asia, and Greenland → see also GONDWANALAND, PANGAEA
laur·e·ate /ˈlɔːriət/ n someone who has won a particular high honour: a Nobel laureate in physics → see also POET LAUREATE
laur·el /ˈlɒrəlˈlɔː-, ˈlɑː-/ n 1 [C;U] a small tree with smooth shiny dark green leaves that do not fall in winter 2 [C] also laurels pl. — honour gained for something done: The minister has been given the credit for achieving the settlement, but the laurels rightfully belong to the civil servants. → see also look to one's laurels (LOOK TO), rest on one's laurels (REST)
,Laurel and 'Hardy two US COMEDIANS, Stan Laurel (1890-1965), who was born in the UK, and Oliver Hardy (1892-1957), who made many humorous and popular films together from the 1920s to the 1950s. Laurel is famous for being a thin stupid character, who is easily upset, and Hardy is famous for being a fat character with a small MOUSTACHE, who often gets angry with Laurel and says to him, 'That's another fine mess you've gotten me into!'
Lau·ren, Ralph /ˈlɔrən, rælf/ (1939-) a US fashion designer who started his own clothes company, Polo, and who is known especially for his CASUAL (=informal) clothes. His company also makes perfumes for men and women.
la·va /ˈlɑːvə/ n [U] 1 rock in a very hot liquid state flowing from a VOLCANO 2 this material when it has become cool and turned into a grey solid with many small holes
'lava ,lamp n a lamp that has a coloured liquid substance inside it that moves up and down
lav·a·to·ri·al /ˌlævəˈtɔːriəl/ adj derog, often humor showing an unhealthily strong interest in the bodily processes connected with lavatories, and/or in sex
lav·a·tory /ˈlævətrɪl-tɔːri/ also lav /læv/ BrE informal — n a TOILET (1,2): to go to the lavatory | a public lavatory → see TOILET (USAGE)
'lavatory ,paper n [U] TOILET PAPER
lav·en·der /ˈlævəndər/ n [U] 1 a plant with stems of small strongly smelling pale purple flowers 2 the dried flowers and stems of this plant used for giving stored clothes, sheets etc a pleasant smell 3 a pale purple colour: lavender(-coloured) writing paper
'lavender ,water n [U] a PERFUME made from lavender oils and alcohol. Lavender water is rather old-fashioned and is connected especially with older UPPER-CLASS ladies.
la·ver /ˈlɑːvər/ n [U] a type of SEAWEED (=sea plant) which can be eaten and which is collected especially on Scottish and Japanese coasts
CULTURAL NOTE Laver bread is a favourite Welsh dish usually eaten at breakfast. The laver is cut up and boiled then fried (FRY) in butter. Although it is called 'bread', it is more liquid than solid and feels slippery.
La·ver, Rod /ˈleɪvər/ (1938-) an Australian tennis player who is regarded as one of the best male players ever. He won the four most important men's competitions, an achievement called the GRAND SLAM, in 1962 and 1969, and is the only player to do this twice.
La·vigne, Av·ril /ˌlævɪn, ˈævrɪl/ (1984-) a Canadian POP singer and SONGWRITER. Her songs include Complicated and Sk8er Boi.
lav·ish¹ /ˈlævɪʃ/ adj 1 [(with, (fml) of)] very generous or wasteful in giving or using: a lavish spender (=who spends a lot, or perhaps too much) | She'd been a bit too lavish with the salt, so the soup didn't taste very nice. 2 given, spent, or produced in great (or perhaps too great) quantity: lavish praise | expenditure on a lavish scale —→ly adv —→ness n [U]
lavish² v
lavish sthg. on/upon sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] to give to or spend on generously or wastefully: He'd lavished most of his fortune on impractical business ventures. | She lavishes a lot of attention on her friends.
law /lɔː/ n 1 [C(against)] a rule that is supported by the power of government and that controls the behaviour of members of a society: Parliament makes/passes laws. | There ought to be a law against that sort of antisocial behaviour. | With the President's signature the bill becomes a law. 2 [the+S] the whole set of such rules: Once they are approved by Parliament, the new traffic regulations will become law. (=people will have to obey them) | There is nothing in law that requires it. | In court, the jury decides on matters of fact, but the judge advises them on matters of law. | The law forbids stealing. | If you break the law, you must expect to be punished. | Driving when you've had too much to drink is against the law. (=is illegal) | She's been studying law for five years. (=learning these rules and studying how they operate) | business law (=the set of laws concerned with business) | a leading London law firm (=a firm of lawyers) 3 [C] a rule of action in a sport, art, business etc: the laws of cricket/commerce 4 [C] a statement expressing what has been seen always to happen in certain conditions: Boyle's law is a scientific principle. | the law of gravity | the laws of nature 5 [the+sing./pl. v] informal the police or a policeman: The law was/were there in force. (=many policemen were there) 6 [the] cap. the instructions in the first five books of the BIBLE on how to live one's life, believed to have been written by Moses 7 be a law unto oneself to take no notice of the law and other rules of behaviour, and do what one wishes 8 go to law (of a private person, not the police or the state) to bring a matter to a court of law for a decision 9 law and order respect and obedience for the law in society: to establish/keep law and order | a breakdown in law and order 10 law of averages the rule that if the chances of anything happening or not happening are equal, it will happen exactly half the time (if attempted often enough) 11 pomp, humor the long arm of the law justice, especially in the form of the police, considered as something that criminals cannot escape from 12 take the law into one's own hands to take no notice of society's rules and act alone, usually by force: He took the law into his own hands and shot the burglar. → see also CIVIL LAW, COMMON LAW, POOR LAW, ROMAN LAW, SOD'S LAW, UNWRITTEN LAW, lay down the law (LAY DOWN) and see also Feature on page A20
Law, Jude /dʒuːd/ (1972-) a British film, theatre, and television actor whose films include Gattaca, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and The Talented Mr Ripley
'law-a,biding adj choosing to obey the law at all times: an honest, law-abiding citizen
'law-,break·er n a person who breaks the law; a criminal
—law-break·ing n [U] Law-breaking is on the increase.