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**lar·go** /'lɑːɡə||'lɑr-/ *n, adj, adv pl.* **-os** (a piece of music) played slowly and solemnly
**lar·i·at** /'lærɪət/ *n* especially *AmE* for LASSO
**lark¹** /lɑːk||lɑːrk/ *n* a small light brown singing bird with long pointed wings, especially the SKYLARK
**lark²** *n* especially *BrE infml*; rather *old-fash* something done as a joke or for amusement; bit of fun: *We hid the teacher's books for a lark.*
**lark³** *v*
**lark about/around** *phr v* [I] especially *BrE infml*; rather *old-fash* to play rather wildly: *I'm sorry we broke the chair – we were only larking about.*
**Lar·kin, Philip** /'lɑːkɪn||'lɑːr-/ (1922–85) a British poet. He often wrote about death and loneliness and his poems are sometimes very sad, but people like them because they are written in plain and simple language. His most famous poems are *Aubade, High Windows,* and *Whitsun Weddings.*
**lark-spur** /'lɑːkspː||'lɑrk-/ *n* a DELPHINIUM
**lar·va** /'lɑːvə||'lɑːrvə/ *n pl.* **-vae** /-viː/ the wormlike young of an insect between leaving the egg and changing into a winged form →**val** *adj*
**Lar·wood, Har·old** /'lɑːwʊd||'lɑːr-, 'hærəld/ (1904–1995) an English CRICKET player famous for the great speed of his BOWLING. When England went to Australia in 1932–33 Larwood was ordered to bowl fast balls which were difficult and sometimes dangerous for the BATSMAN to play, which caused a public SCANDAL.
**lar·yn·gi·tis** /ˌlærɪnˈdʒaɪtɪs/ *n* [U] a painful swollen condition of the larynx which makes it difficult to speak: *suffering from (acute) laryngitis*
**lar·ynx** /'lærɪŋks/ also **voice box** *infml* — *n pl.* **-ynges** /lə'rɪndʒiːz/ (*med*) or **-ynxes** the hollow boxlike part at the upper end of the throat in which the sounds of the voice are produced by the VOCAL CORDS
**la·sa·gna, -gne** /lə'sænjə, -'zæn-||-'zɑːn-/ *n* [U] (an Italian dish made with) broad flat pieces of PASTA, meat or vegetables, and usually cheese
**La Salle, Ren·é Ro·bert, Sieur de** /lə 'sæl, 'reneɪ 'rbəəlrə'neɪ rɑː'bɛər, 'sjɜː dɛl'sjɜːr-/ (1643–87) a French EXPLORER who travelled through North America, down the Mississippi River, and claimed a large area of the southern part of North America for France, naming it LOUISIANA. He was killed by his followers when another EXPEDITION he was leading was unsuccessful and they got lost.
**La Sca·la** /lə 'skɑːləllə-/ a theatre in Milan, in northern Italy, where OPERAS are performed. It is considered to be one of the greatest opera houses in the world.
**Las·caux** /læ'skəʊ/ a cave in southwest France that has PREHISTORIC paintings of animals and hunters on its walls, which were painted about 17,500 years ago
**las·civ·i·ous** /lə'sɪvɪəs/ *adj* *derog* feeling or showing uncontrolled sexual desire: *a lascivious look* →**-ly** *adv* →**-ness** *n* [U]
**la·ser** /'leɪzər/ *n* (an apparatus for producing) a very hot narrow beam of light, used for cutting metals and other hard substances and in medical operations etc; also sometimes used in light shows for entertainment: *laser beams | laser surgery* → compare MASER
**'laser pen** *n* a small object that produces a powerful beam of bright light, used for pointing to things, for example when giving a talk
**'laser ,pointer** *n* a small piece of equipment that produces a LASER beam, used by teachers and people who are giving talks in order to point at things on a map, board etc
**'laser ,printer** *n* a machine, especially one connected to a computer system, that produces printed material by means of laser light
**lash¹** /læʃ/ *v* **1** [T] to hit hard (as if) with a whip: *He lashed the horse cruelly.* | (*fig.*) *The newspaper headline is 'Judge lashes drug dealers'.* (=attacks them violently with words) **2** [I+adv/prep; T] to hit or move violently or suddenly: *The waves lashed (against) the rocks. | The rain lashed down.* **3** [T+prep, especially into] to cause to have sudden strong violent feelings: *The speaker lashed the crowd into a fury of hatred.* **4** [T+obj+adv/prep] to tie firmly, especially with rope: *We had to lash the cargo to the ship's deck during the storm.*
**lash out** *phr v* **1** [(at, against)] to make a sudden violent attacking movement: (*fig.*) *He lashed out at his critics.* **2** [I; T(=lash out sthg.)](*on*)] *BrE infml* to spend (a lot of money), especially wastefully: *He lashed out (£12,000) on a car.*
**lash²** *n* **1** a hit with a whip: *His punishment was thirty lashes.* **2** the thin bendable part of a whip **3** a sudden or violent movement: *With a lash of its tail the tiger leaped at her.* **4** an EYELASH
**lash·ings** /'læʃɪz/ *n* [P(*of*)] *infml*, especially *BrE* a large amount, especially of food and drink; lots: *apple pie with lashings of cream*
**'lash-up** *n* *BrE infml*; often *derog* an arrangement of e.g. electrical apparatus put together quickly to be used for only a limited period
**Las Pal·mas** /læs 'pælməs||lɑːs 'pɑːl-/ a town on the island of GRAN CANARIA in the Canary Islands, which is very popular with British tourists
**lass** /læs/ also **lassie** *n* especially *ScotE & N EngE* **1** a girl or young woman **2** a GIRLFRIEND → compare LAD
**Lass·sie** /'læsi/ a dog who was the main character in seven films made between 1943 and 1951 and later in television programmes. Lassie is known for being very brave and clever, and she often saves people from danger, especially members of the family that she belongs to.
**las·si·tude** /'læsɪtjuːd||-tjuːd, -tuːd/ *n* [U] *fml* **1** tiredness **2** laziness: *He accused the official of moral lassitude.* (=failure to keep up good moral standards)
**las·so¹** /lə'suː, 'læsəʊ/ also **lariat** especially *AmE* — *n pl.* **-sos** a rope with one end that can be tightened in a NOOSE (=circle) used especially in the US for catching horses and cattle
**lasso²** *v* [T] to catch with a lasso: *The cowboy lassoed the wild horse.*
**last¹** /lɑːst||læst/ *determiner, adv* **1** after anything else; after the others: *George arrived last/was the last person to arrive.* **2** being the only remaining; FINAL: *This is my last £5. | We've almost finished packing – this is the last suitcase. | That is the last time I invite him to dinner.* (=I will not invite him again.) **3** on the occasion nearest in the past; most recent(ly): *last night | last January | When did you last see him? | I arrived in France last week.* (=in the week before this) | *I've been here for the last week.* (=for the last seven days) | *This week's class was shorter than last week's.* → compare NEXT¹ **4** the least suitable or likely: *He's the last person I'd have expected to see here.* **5** LASTLY **6** last but not least important(ly), although coming at the end: *Last but not least, our thanks are due to the technicians working behind the scenes.* **7** on one's/its last legs *infml* **a)** very tired **b)** nearly worn out or failed: *This car's on its last legs.* **c)** close to death **8** (it's/That's) so last year/month (*dot com.*) *infml* *humor* an expression used to mean that something is no longer modern or fashionable
**1** When our point of view is in the present, looking back to the past, we say **last night**, **last week** etc: *I'm sure I saw George at the club last week.* But when our point of view is in the past, looking even further back into the past, we use expressions like **the night before** that **the previous week** etc: *I was sure I had seen George at the club the previous week.* **2** Compare **latest** and **last**. **Latest** means 'new and most recent': *Have you heard the latest news?* **Last** before a noun means 'coming at the end' or 'before the latest one': *'The Magic Flute' was Mozart's last opera. | Have you read Steinway's latest novel? It's much better than his last one.*
**last²** *n, pron* [(the)S~] **1** the person, thing, or group after all others: *'I hope I'm not the last,' he said, as he arrived at the party.* | [+to-v] *I was the last to arrive. | The last I heard she was in Spain.* (=that is the most recent information I have heard about her) → compare FIRST² **2** the only remaining; the end: *They drank up the last of the wine. | I'm sure you haven't heard the last of the matter.* (=the matter is not yet finished) **3** the one or ones before the present one: *He was here the week before last.* (=two weeks ago) **4** at (long) last in the end; after a long time: *At last we found out what had really happened. | He's here, at last!* → compare at first (FIRST²); see LASTLY (USAGE) **5** to the last until the latest moment; until the end: *The condemned man continued to the*