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L, l
L, l /el/ pl. L's, l's n 1 [C,U] the 12th letter of the English alphabet 2 [C] the number 50 in the system of ROMAN NUMERALS
L written abbrev. for 1 large; used on clothes to show the size 2 lake; used on maps 3 also l litre; or litres; 4 learner; used on cars to show that the driver is a learner → see also L-PLATE 5 also (in a poem, play etc) line
la /lɑː/ n [S;U] the sixth note in the SOL-FA musical scale
LA¹ /ˌel ˈeɪ/ abbrev. for LOS ANGELES
LA² written abbrev. for LOUISIANA
laa·ger /ˈlɑgə/ n [S] (especially in connection with politics in South Africa) a position of opposing all change and uniting to defend the existing social and political conditions: Demands for major reforms may simply drive the whites back into their laager. | a laager mentality
lab /læb/ n infml 1 abbrev. for LABORATORY 2 LABRADOR
Lab written abbrev. for LABOUR PARTY
la·bel¹ /ˈleɪbəl/ n 1 a piece of paper or other material, fixed to something, which gives information about what it is, where it is to go, who owns it etc: luggage labels | The label on the bottle says 'Poison'. 2 a record company: their new release on the Ace Sounds label
label² v -ll- BrE || -l- AmE [T] 1 to fix or tie a label on: Make sure your luggage is properly labelled. | [+obj+n/adj] The doctor labelled the bottle poison/poisonous. 2 [+obj+n/adj] to describe as belonging to a particular kind or class: The newspapers had unjustly labelled him (as) a coward.
la·bi·al /ˈleɪbiəl/ n, adj tech (a speech sound) made using one or both lips → compare BILABIAL
La Bo·hème /lɑː bəʊˈem/ (1896) an OPERA by PUCCINI about a young woman called Mimi who has a relationship with a poet called Rodolfo, but later becomes very ill and dies. In the most famous scene, Rodolfo accidentally touches Mimi's hand, and noticing how cold it is, sings 'Your tiny hand is frozen'.
la·bor·a·tory /ləˈbɒrətri||ˈlæbrətɔːri/ n a special building or room in which a scientist works to examine, test, or prepare materials: This is our new research laboratory. | a laboratory experiment | laboratory animals (=animals used for scientific tests) → see also LANGUAGE LABORATORY
ˈLabor Day a public holiday in the US and Canada on the first Monday in September → see Feature on page A18
CULTURAL NOTE Labor Day was originally established to honour workers, but now most people think of it as the last day of summer and celebrate it with PICNICS and BARBECUES over Labor Day Weekend.
la·bo·ri·ous /ləˈbɔːriəs/ adj 1 needing great effort: Breaking up the stones was a laborious task. 2 derog showing signs of being done with difficulty: This essay of his is a laborious piece of work. —ly adv: They made their way laboriously up the mountainside. —ness n [U]
ˈlabor union n AmE for TRADE UNION → see also AFL-CIO, TEAMSTERS
la·bour¹ BrE || labor AmE /ˈleɪbə/ n 1 [U] effort or work, especially tiring physical work: Building roads still involves manual labour. (=work with hand-held tools) | The garage charged us for parts and labour. → see WORK¹ (USAGE) 2 [U+sing./pl. v] workers, especially those who use their hands, considered as a group or class: It is up to organized labour to band together to fight the government's anti-union laws. | plans to cut the company's labour force (=the number of workers) | Labour relations (=between the workers and employers) have improved recently. 3 [S;U] the act of giving birth: She was in labour for several hours. | labour pains 4 [C] fml (the doing of) a piece of work: Sit down and rest after your labours! → see also HARD LABOUR
labour² BrE || labor AmE — v 1 [I] to work, especially hard: They laboured for years to build this monument. | I laboured over the report. 2 [+adv/prep] to move slowly and with difficulty: She laboured up the hill with her heavy bags. 3 [T] also belabour — to describe or deal with (something) in too great detail or by repeating too much: There's no need to labour the point; we're all well aware what you mean. 4 [I] (of an engine) to be working with difficulty at too low a speed
labour under sthg. phr v [T] fml to have or be influenced by (a mistaken idea): If you think you're going to be promoted soon I'm afraid you're labouring under a delusion.
Labour n [U] the British LABOUR PARTY: Labour won the election in 1997. | a pro-Labour newspaper —Labour adj: Labour voters | a Labour policy
la·boured BrE || labored AmE /ˈleɪbəd||-bərd/ adj showing signs of effort and difficulty: You could tell from the laboured way he read out his speech that he didn't know much English. | laboured breathing
la·bour·er BrE || laborer AmE /ˈleɪbərə/ n a worker whose job needs strength rather than skill, especially one who works outdoors
ˈlabour exˌchange n BrE old-fash for JOB CENTRE
ˈlabour-inˌtensive adj (of an industry) needing a lot of workers compared with its other needs, such as money → compare CAPITAL-INTENSIVE
ˈlabour ˌmarket, the the supply of workers in a particular country, area etc, who are ready or suitable for work
ˈlabour ˌmovement BrE || labor movement AmE — n the political parties representing working people, and all other organizations which have the same beliefs and aims
ˌlabour of ˈlove n pl. labours of love a piece of work done for one's own pleasure, or to please someone else, and not for money or other gain
ˈLabour ˌParty, the a political party trying to obtain social improvement, especially for workers and less wealthy people
CULTURAL NOTE The Labour Party is one of the two main political parties in the UK. It was traditionally a SOCIALIST party that was closely connected with the TRADE UNIONS, but during the 1980s and 1990s it changed and moved towards the political centre, especially after Tony BLAIR became party leader in 1994. Since then the party has also been known as New Labour. The Labour Party lost power to the CONSERVATIVE PARTY in 1979, but won power from the Conservatives in 1997 and won the election again in 2001. → compare CONSERVATIVE PARTY
la·bour-sav·ing BrE || laborsaving AmE /ˈleɪbəˌseɪvɪŋ|| -bər-/ adj that reduces or takes away the need to do work, especially with one's hands: laboursaving electrical appliances such as food mixers | a laboursaving device
Lab·ra·dor¹ /ˈlæbrədɔː/ a REGION on the east coast of Canada. It is the MAINLAND part of the PROVINCE of Newfoundland.
Labrador² also ˌLabrador reˈtriever n a type of large dog with short yellow or black hair, known for its friendly nature. Dogs of this type with yellow hair are called Golden Labradors or Golden Retrievers. → see picture at DOG
la·bur·num /ləˈbɜːnəm||-ɜːr-/ n [C;U] a small decorative tree with long hanging stems of yellow flowers and poisonous seeds
lab·y·rinth /ˈlæbərɪnθ/ n [(of)] 1 a network of passages or paths that meet and cross each other, through which it is difficult to find one's way; MAZE: We made our way through a labyrinth of narrow, twisting alleyways. | [fig.] You need an expert to guide you through the labyrinth of rules and regulations on this subject. 2 usually cap. [the] in CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY a very complicated labyrinth from which few people ever escaped. It was built by Daedalus on the island of Crete and the Minotaur was kept there. → see also THESEUS, MINOTAUR —ine /ˌlæbəˈrɪnθaɪn, -ˌθɪn/ adj
lace¹ /leɪs/ n 1 [U] a netlike decorative cloth made of fine thread: lace curtains → see also LACY 2 [C] a string or cord that is pulled through holes in the edges of an opening, especially in shoes (SHOELACE) or clothing, to pull the edges together and fasten them → see PAIR (USAGE)
lace² v [T] 1 [(UP)] to pull together or fasten by tying a lace: If you don't lace up your shoes, you'll trip over. 2 [(UP)] to pass a