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latch
last (=until he was officially killed) to insist that he was innocent. -> see also breathe one's last (BREATHE), the first shall be last and the last shall be first (FIRST²)
last³ v 1 [L+n;I+adv/prep] to continue for the stated length of time; go on: The lessons last less than an hour. | The hot weather lasted until September/for several weeks. 2 [(OUT)] to remain in good condition, in existence, or alive: Her bad mood won't last. | This cheap watch won't last (for) very long. 3 [T(OUT)] to continue in good condition or alive beyond the end of: He's very ill, and isn't expected to last (out) the night. 4 [L+(obj)+n] to be enough for: This food will only last (them) three days.
last⁴ n a piece of wood or metal shaped like a human foot, used by shoemakers and shoe repairers
last 'call n AmE LAST ORDERS
last-'ditch adj [A] done as one last effort before accepting defeat: In a last-ditch attempt to save the company from collapsing, they asked the government to lend them money.
Last Exit to 'Brooklyn a NOVEL by the US writer Hubert Selby Jr which describes in detail various sexual acts, including HOMOSEXUAL sex and RAPE, which take place in New York. It was published in Britain in 1966 and the next year was judged in court to be OBSCENE. But in 1968, publication in Britain was allowed. A film of Last Exit to Brooklyn was made in 1989.
last-ing /'lɑ:stıŋ || 'læs-/ adj continuing for a long time; unending: searching for a lasting peace after so many terrible wars | His policies had a lasting effect on our country's economy.
last 'judgment [the] (often cap.) JUDGMENT DAY
last-ly /'lɑ:stlı || 'læst-/ adv after everything else: And lastly, let me mention the great support I've had from my assistant.
Compare Lastly, finally, at last, and in the end. Lastly and finally are often used when you are separating the points you want to make and are putting them in order: There are three reasons why I hate him: first(ly) he's a cheat, second(ly) he's a liar, and lastly/finally he owes me money. At last and in the end cannot be used in this way. These words mean 'after a long time; after a lot of waiting': I tried over and over again and at last/in the end I succeeded. Finally (but not lastly) can also be used with this meaning: I waited for hours and finally/at last/in the end he arrived.
last 'minute n [the] the moment just before an event, decision etc: At the last minute she changed her mind and turned down the job. | last-minute preparations
last-min-ute.com /lɑ:stˌmɪnˌɪt dt 'kɒm || læst-ˌdɑ:t 'kɑ:m/ an Internet company that sells holidays, theatre tickets, and hotel rooms at very cheap prices. These things are available immediately or very soon, but not weeks or months in the future. You use the company's WEBSITE to book or buy the holidays etc.
last name n especially AmE SURNAME
the Last Night of the Proms
Last Night of the 'Proms, the the last concert of the PROMS (=a series of concerts held each summer in the ALBERT HALL in London). The second part of the concert always consists of the same tunes and songs, and the people who go to the concert join the singing. Some of them wear silly hats and have their faces painted. The concert ends with the PATRIOTIC song LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY, and many people sing it while waving UNION JACKS (=British national flags).
last number 'recall also -re'dial n [U] a feature on a telephone which has the ability to DIAL again the last number called without the caller having to dial it by hand
Last of the Mo'hicans, The (1826) a novel by James Fenimore COOPER about the lives of Native Americans and the adventures of PIONEERS (=the first Europeans) in North America. It has been made into several films and television programmes, including a film in 1992.
Last of the Summer 'Wine a popular SITCOM on British television (=a series of programmes with humorous stories about the same group of characters) about three old men who live in a small country village in Yorkshire. It was first shown in the 1970s and is still very popular.
last 'orders BrE || last call AmE — (the words called out at) the time when a PUBLIC HOUSE or bar is about to close and there is just time for one more set of drink orders to be taken -> see Feature on page A24
last 'post [the] a tune played on a BUGLE at military funerals, or to call soldiers back to camp for the night -> see also TAPS
last 'rites n [P] -> see RITE
last 'straw [the] the difficulty, trouble etc that makes the total unbearable when it is added to one's present difficulties or troubles: After losing my credit cards and having my camera stolen, breaking my leg really was the last straw. -> see also the straw that breaks the camel's back (STRAW)
Last 'Supper, the 1 in the New Testament of the Bible, the meal eaten by Jesus and his twelve DISCIPLES on the evening before he was crucified (CRUCIFY). Jesus gave everyone bread and wine, and the Christian ceremony of the EUCHARIST is based on this meal. 2 a painting of this event, especially the one painted by LEONARDO DA VINCI from 1495 to 1497, on the wall of a MONASTERY in Milan.
Last Tango in 'Paris (1972) a US film in which Marlon BRANDO appears as a man living in Paris who has a sexual relationship with a young woman. It was considered shocking when it was first shown because it contained a lot of sex scenes.
last 'word [the] 1 [(on)] the word or phrase that ends an argument, usually giving advantage to the speaker: She always has to have the last word. | That's my last word on the subject. 2 the deciding judgment: The last word must rest with the boss. 3 [+in] infml the most modern example: This computer is the last word in high technology.
Las Ve-gas /læs 'veɡəs || læs-/ also Vegas infml a city in the desert in the US state of Nevada, known especially for its CASINOS such as the Luxor, which is built in the shape of an ancient Egyptian PYRAMID, and Caesar's Palace, where people dress like ancient Romans. Las Vegas has many CHAPELS OF LOVE where people can get married immediately, and is a popular place for people to spend their HONEYMOON in. It is also known for having impressive and exciting shows in its hotels and casinos where many famous performers appear, and for its large modern buildings that are covered in lights. -> compare RENO
lat written abbrev. for LATITUDE
latch¹ /lætʃ/ n 1 a simple fastening for a door, gate, window etc, worked by dropping a bar into a U-shaped space: To open the gate, lift up the latch. 2 a fastening for a house door that can be opened from the inside with a handle but from the outside only with a key: I'll leave the door on the latch. (=fastened only with the latch, not locked)
latch² v [I;T] to fasten or be able to be fastened with a latch: Remember to latch the gate behind you.
latch on phr v [I] infml to understand; CATCH on: He's not very clever, so it took him some time to latch on.
latch onto sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] infml 1 to gain an understanding of: He soon latched onto how to do it. 2 to start trying to talk to (someone), be friendly with them etc, and refuse to go away: He latched onto me at the party and bored me for hours with silly gossip. 3 to take hold of with the mind; develop an interest in or recognition of: It has taken the company a long time to latch onto all the new technology now available.