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law en,force-ment n [U] the act of causing (a rule or law) to be obeyed or carried out effectively: a law enforcement officer | The police are responsible for law enforcement.
law en,force-ment ,agent n a policeman or officer of the law
law firm n AmE a business company specializing in legal services and employing usually many LAWYERS
law-ful /'lɔ:fəl/ adj.fml 1 allowed by law: I was going about my lawful business. 2 admitted by law to be the stated thing: a lawful marriage → see LEGAL (USAGE) —ly adv —ness n [U]
law-less /'lɔ:ləs/ adj 1 (of a country or place) not governed by laws: lawless frontier towns 2 uncontrolled; wild: lawless frontiersmen —ly adv —ness n [U]
Law ,Lords, the n [P] the members of the British HOUSE OF LORDS who are also important lawyers and judges. As a group, they act as the highest court in the British legal system.
law-mak-er /'lɔ:,meɪkə/ n [often pl.] AmE any elected official who is responsible for making laws: lawmakers in Washington | county lawmakers
law-man /'lɔ:mən/ n AmE pl. -men /-men/ any professional officer whose job is to make sure that the law is obeyed, especially a SHERIFF: He's one of the finest lawmen I've ever met.
lawn /lɔ:n/ n a stretch of usually flat ground, especially next to a house, covered with closely cut grass: Let's have tea on the lawn. | The grass is getting too long, we must mow the lawn.
lawn ,bowling n [U] AmE for BOWLS
lawn chair n [C] AmE a light chair like a folding bed, that you can sit or lie on outside when the sun is shining: SUN LOUNGER (BrE)
lawn-mow-er /'lɔ:n,məʊə/ n a machine which can be pushed or driven along the ground to cut grass, especially in gardens
lawn ,party n AmE for GARDEN PARTY
lawn 'tennis n [U] fml or tech for TENNIS
Law of 'Moses, the → see MOSAIC LAW
law of the 'jungle, the the principle that only the strongest will succeed in life and that people should help themselves rather than others
Law-rence, D. H. /'lɔ:rənsɪ'lɔ:-, 'lɑ:-/ (1885-1930) a British writer known especially for his stories of life in industrial society, in which his characters show strong emotion and sexual desire. His best-known books are SONS AND LOVERS, WOMEN IN LOVE, and LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER. Several of his books were considered OBSCENE (=offensive because of their sexual descriptions) when they were written, and Lady Chatterley's Lover could not be bought in the UK until 1960.
Lawrence, Ste-phen /'sti:vən/ (1974-93) a young black British man from London who was murdered in April 1993 when he was attacked by a group of young white men in the street. Several men were charged with murder but a court said there was not enough evidence to send them to prison. Sir William Macpherson wrote an official report about the way the police worked on the case. He said that they had made serious mistakes, and he criticized them for sometimes behaving in a RACIST way.
Lawrence, T. E. (1888-1935) a British soldier and writer, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, whose life was the subject of a famous film made in 1962. Lawrence helped the Arabs in their fight against the Turks (1914-18), and was strongly in favour of Arab independence. He wrote The Seven Pillars of Wisdom about his adventures in the desert.
'law school n [C;U] AmE a school of higher education where one studies to become a lawyer, having already earned a BACHELOR'S DEGREE
'Law So,ciety, the an organization for members of the legal profession in the UK. The Law Society is in charge of the education and training of lawyers, and is responsible for making sure that they do their jobs in a professional and honest way.
Law-son, Ni-gel-la /'lɔ:sən, naɪ'dʒelə/ (1960–) a British JOURNALIST, COOKERY writer, and television presenter who is known for her ENTHUSIASM about food and for her attractive appearance. She has made many television programmes about cooking, and has written several books. She is the daughter of Nigel Lawson, who used to be the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and she married Charles Saatchi in 2003.
law-suit /'lɔ:su:t, -sju:t||-su:t/ also suit n a matter brought to a court of law for decision by a private person or company, not by the police or the state: The victims have started a lawsuit to get compensation for their injuries.
law-yer /'lɔ:jər/ n a person whose business is to advise people about laws, write formal agreements, or to represent people in court: I suggest you consult a lawyer. → see also ADVOCATE, ATTORNEY, BARRISTER, SOLICITOR
CULTURAL NOTE 'Lawyer' is the most general word for talking about someone who either represents people in a court of law or advises people about legal problems. Lawyers sometimes do legal work that is related to only one particular area of the law, such as medical cases, or company law, or they can do general work for many different types of legal cases. In the US, a lawyer can also be called an attorney which means exactly the same. The word counselor is also used in the US to mean a lawyer, especially one working in a court of law, and it can be used as a title when speaking to a lawyer in court. In the UK, a lawyer who represents someone in court is called a barrister and a lawyer who mainly works in an office is called a solicitor, and these two types of lawyer have different training.
lax /læks/ adj 1 not paying enough attention to what is needed or lacking in control, especially of oneself or others: That teacher's too lax with his class; no wonder they're so undisciplined. | lax morals | Lax security allowed the thieves to enter. 2 med (of bowels) emptying too easily —ly adv —ity, -ness n [U]
LAX /ˌel eɪ 'eks/ abbrev. for Los Angeles International Airport; the main airport in Los Angeles, California
lax·a·tive /'læksətɪv/ n, adj (a medicine or something eaten for) causing the bowels to empty easily
lay¹ /leɪ/ v past tense of LIE
lay² v laid /leɪd/ 1 [T+obj+adv/prep] to put, especially carefully, in a flat position; place: They laid the injured woman (down) on the grass. | He laid his coat over a chair. 2 [T] to set in proper order or position: He planned to build his own house, and was learning to lay bricks. | We're having a new carpet laid in the bedroom. 3 [T] to prepare; make ready: to lay plans | to lay a trap | (BrE) She laid the table. (=covered it with a cloth, knives, forks etc, ready for a meal) 4 [T] to cause to settle, disappear, or no longer be active: The rain quickly laid the dust. | to lay a ghost 5 [I;T] (of a bird, insect etc) to produce (an egg or eggs): Last week they laid 30 eggs, but this week the hens aren't laying. 6 [T(on)] to risk (money) on the result of something happening, such as a race; BET: She laid £5 on the favourite. 7 [T+obj+adv/prep] to put into a particular condition, especially of weakness, helplessness, obedience etc: The country was laid in ruins. 8 [T+obj+adv/prep] to make (a statement, claim, charge etc) in a serious, official, or public way: Your employer has laid a serious charge against you. | The proposal was laid before the committee. | He laid the blame squarely on the police. 9 [T] taboo slang to have sex with: He's been trying to lay her for ages. | He only goes to parties to get laid. → see also LAY⁴ 10 lay someone/something flat to knock down to the ground 11 lay someone low: a) to make someone unable to perform their usual activities because of illness: I've been laid low with flu for a week. b) especially fml or lit to knock or bring someone down, especially so as to wound them or make them helpless 12 lay something on the line: a) to state (a fact, one's intentions etc) forcefully; make clear b) to risk: He laid his life on the line for his country. 13 lay waste to make (a place) bare, especially by violence; destroy, as in war 14 lay someone/oneself open to to put someone/oneself into the position of receiving (blame, attack etc): If you don't get the facts right, you'll lay yourself open to criticism/to ridicule → see also lay one's cards on the table (CARDS), lay a finger on (FINGER¹)