COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Collins Cobuild)

▸ lump together PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If a number of different people or things are lumped together , they are considered as a group rather than separately. □ [be V -ed P ] Police officers, bankers and butchers are all lumped together in the service sector. □ [be V -ed P + with ] They are lumped together with the troublemakers and basically written off.

lum|pec|to|my /lʌmpe ktəmi/ (lumpectomies ) N‑COUNT A lumpectomy is an operation in which a woman has a lump such as a tumour removed from one of her breasts, rather than having the whole breast removed.

lump|en /lʌ mpən/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A lumpen object is large, heavy, and lumpy. [mainly BRIT , LITERARY ] □ She was kneading a lumpen mass of dough. □ Lumpen shapes began to appear out of the shadows.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe people as lumpen , you think they are dull and clumsy. [mainly BRIT , LITERARY , DISAPPROVAL ] □ The people seemed lumpen and boring.

lu mp sum (lump sums ) N‑COUNT A lump sum is an amount of money that is paid as a large amount on a single occasion rather than as smaller amounts on several separate occasions. □ [+ of ] …a tax-free lump sum of £50,000 at retirement age.

lumpy /lʌ mpi/ (lumpier , lumpiest ) ADJ Something that is lumpy contains lumps or is covered with lumps. □ When the rice isn't cooked properly it goes lumpy and gooey.

lu|na|cy /luː nəsi/

1 N‑UNCOUNT If you describe someone's behaviour as lunacy , you mean that it seems very strange or foolish. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …the lunacy of the tax system. □ It remains lunacy to produce yet more coal to add to power stations' stockpiles.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Lunacy is severe mental illness. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

lu|nar /luː nə ^r / ADJ [ADJ n] Lunar means relating to the moon. □ The vast volcanic slope was eerily reminiscent of a lunar landscape. □ …a magazine article celebrating the anniversary of man's first lunar landing.

lu|na|tic /luː nət I k/ (lunatics )

1 N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a lunatic , you think they behave in a dangerous, stupid, or annoying way. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Her son thinks she's an absolute raving lunatic.

2 ADJ If you describe someone's behaviour or ideas as lunatic , you think they are very foolish and possibly dangerous. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the operation of the market taken to lunatic extremes. □ …a country spurned until now by all except the more lunatic of journalists and adventurers.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe a place or situation as lunatic , you mean that it is confused and seems out of control. □ He pleads for sanity in a lunatic world.

4 N‑COUNT People who were mentally ill used to be called lunatics . [OLD-FASHIONED , OFFENSIVE ]

lu |na|tic asy|lum (lunatic asylums ) N‑COUNT A lunatic asylum was a place where mentally disturbed people used to be locked up. [OLD-FASHIONED , OFFENSIVE ]

lu |na|tic fri nge N‑SING If you refer to a group of people as the lunatic fringe , you mean that they are very extreme in their opinions or behaviour. □ …the lunatic fringe of Milanese fashion.

lunch ◆◆◇ /lʌ ntʃ/ (lunches , lunching , lunched )

1 N‑VAR Lunch is the meal that you have in the middle of the day. □ Shall we meet somewhere for lunch? □ He did not enjoy business lunches. □ [+ with ] If anyone wants me, I'm at lunch with a client.

2 VERB When you lunch , you have lunch, especially at a restaurant. [FORMAL ] □ [V adv/prep] Only the extremely rich could afford to lunch at the Mirabelle. □ [V ] Having not yet lunched, we went to the refreshment bar for ham sandwiches.

lu nch box (lunch boxes ) also lunchbox N‑COUNT A lunch box is a small container with a lid. You put food such as sandwiches in it to eat for lunch at work or at school.

lu nch break (lunch breaks ) also lunchbreak N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Your lunch break is the period in the middle of the day when you stop work in order to have a meal.

lu nch coun|ter (lunch counters ) N‑COUNT A lunch counter is an informal café or a counter in a shop where people can buy and eat meals. [AM ]

lunch|eon /lʌ ntʃən/ (luncheons ) N‑COUNT A luncheon is a formal lunch, for example to celebrate an important event or to raise money for charity. □ [+ for ] Earlier this month, a luncheon for former U.N. staff was held in Vienna.

lunch|eon|ette /lʌntʃəne t/ (luncheonettes ) N‑COUNT A luncheonette is a small restaurant that serves light meals. [AM ]

lu nch|eon meat (luncheon meats )

1 N‑VAR Luncheon meat is meat that you eat in a sandwich or salad, and that is usually cold and either sliced or formed into rolls. [AM ]

2 N‑VAR Luncheon meat is a type of cooked meat that is often sold in tins. It is a mixture of pork and cereal. [BRIT ]

lu nch hour (lunch hours ) N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] Your lunch hour is the period in the middle of the day when you stop working, usually for one hour, in order to have a meal.

lunch|room /lʌ ntʃruːm/ (lunchrooms ) also lunch room N‑COUNT A lunchroom is the room in a school or company where you buy and eat your lunch. [AM ]

lunch|time /lʌ ntʃta I m/ (lunchtimes ) also lunch time N‑VAR Lunchtime is the period of the day when people have their lunch. □ Could we meet at lunchtime? □ …a lunchtime meeting.

lung /lʌ ŋ/ (lungs ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your lungs are the two organs inside your chest which fill with air when you breathe in.

lunge /lʌ ndʒ/ (lunges , lunging , lunged )

1 VERB If you lunge in a particular direction, you move in that direction suddenly and clumsily. □ [V prep/adv] He lunged at me, grabbing me violently. □ [V prep/adv] I lunged forward to try to hit him. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Lunge is also a noun. □ [+ for ] The attacker knocked on their door and made a lunge for Wendy when she answered.

2 N‑COUNT Lunges are exercises that you do to strengthen your leg muscles. They involve stepping forward with a bent leg while keeping the other leg straight. □ I advised her to do lunges, press-ups and crunches for toning.

lung|ful /lʌ ŋfʊl/ (lungfuls ) N‑COUNT If someone takes a lungful of something such as fresh air or smoke, they breathe in deeply so that their lungs feel as if they are full of that thing. [WRITTEN ] □ [+ of ] I bobbed to the surface and gasped a lungful of air.

lurch /lɜː ^r tʃ/ (lurches , lurching , lurched )

1 VERB To lurch means to make a sudden movement, especially forwards, in an uncontrolled way. □ [V adv/prep] As the car sped over a pothole she lurched forward. □ [V adv/prep] Henry looked, stared, and lurched to his feet. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Lurch is also a noun. □ The car took a lurch forward but grounded in a deep rut.

2 VERB If you say that a person or organization lurches from one thing to another, you mean they move suddenly from one course of action or attitude to another in an uncontrolled way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V from n to n] The state government has lurched from one budget crisis to another. □ [V prep/adv] The first round of multilateral trade talks has lurched between hope and despair. ● N‑COUNT Lurch is also a noun. □ The property sector was another casualty of the lurch towards higher interest rates.

3 PHRASE If someone leaves you in the lurch , they go away or stop helping you at a very difficult time. [INFORMAL ] □ You wouldn't leave an old friend in the lurch, surely?

lure /ljʊə ^r , [AM ] lʊ r/ (lures , luring , lured )

1 VERB To lure someone means to trick them into a particular place or to trick them into doing something that they should not do. □ [V n prep/adv] He lured her to his home and shot her with his father's gun. □ [V n prep/adv] Supermarkets will try to lure customers back in with special offers.

2 N‑COUNT A lure is an object which is used to attract animals so that they can be caught.

3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A lure is an attractive quality that something has, or something that you find attractive. □ [+ to ] The excitement of hunting big game in Africa has been a lure to Europeans for 200 years. □ [+ of ] The lure of rural life is proving as strong as ever.

lu|rid /ljʊə r I d, [AM ] lʊ r I d/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that something is lurid , you are critical of it because it involves a lot of violence, sex, or shocking detail. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …lurid accounts of Claire's sexual exploits. □ Some reports have contained lurid accounts of deaths and mutilations. ● lu|rid|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ His cousin was soon cursing luridly.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as lurid , you do not like it because it is very brightly coloured. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She took care to paint her toe nails a lurid red or orange. ● lu|rid|ly ADV [usu ADV adj/-ed] □ It had a high ceiling and a luridly coloured square of carpet on the floor.

lurk /lɜː ^r k/ (lurks , lurking , lurked )

1 VERB If someone lurks somewhere, they wait there secretly so that they cannot be seen, usually because they intend to do something bad. □ [V ] He thought he saw someone lurking above the chamber during the address.

2 VERB If something such as a danger, doubt, or fear lurks somewhere, it exists but is not obvious or easily recognized. □ [V ] Hidden dangers lurk in every family saloon car. □ [V ] Around every corner lurked doubt and uncertainty.

lus|cious /lʌ ʃəs/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a woman or something about her as luscious , you mean that you find her or this thing sexually attractive. □ …a luscious young blonde. □ What I like most about Gabby is her luscious lips!

2 ADJ Luscious food is juicy and very good to eat. □ …a small apricot tree which bore luscious fruit.

lush /lʌ ʃ/ (lusher , lushest )

1 ADJ Lush fields or gardens have a lot of very healthy grass or plants. □ …the lush green meadows bordering the river. □ The beautifully landscaped gardens sprawl with lush vegetation. ● lush|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ …a tropical lushness.

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you describe a place or thing as lush , you mean that it is very luxurious. □ …a mirrored bathroom done in soft pink tiles with a lush, plush carpet. □ The fabrics were lush.

3 ADJ-GRADED If you describe a person or thing as lush , you mean that they are very attractive or appealing. [INFORMAL ] □ Supermodel Kate Moss explains how she looks lush for every party.

lust /lʌ st/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Lust is a feeling of strong sexual desire for someone. □ His relationship with Angie was the first which combined lust with friendship. □ [+ for ] His lust for her grew until it was overpowering.

2 N‑UNCOUNT A lust for something is a very strong and eager desire to have it. □ [+ for ] It was Fred's lust for glitz and glamour that was driving them apart.

▸ lust after or lust for

1 PHRASAL VERB If you lust after someone or lust for them, you feel a very strong sexual desire for them. □ [V P n] From what I hear, half the campus is lusting after her.

2 PHRASAL VERB If you lust after or lust for something, you have a very strong desire to possess it. □ [V P n] Sheard lusted after the Directorship.

lust|ful /lʌ stfʊl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Lustful means feeling or expressing strong sexual desire. □ …lustful thoughts.

lus|tre /lʌ stə ^r / in AM, use luster 1 N‑UNCOUNT Lustre is gentle shining light that is reflected from a surface, for example from polished metal. □ Gold retains its lustre for far longer than other metals. □ It is softer than cotton and nylon and has a similar lustre to silk.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Lustre is the qualities that something has that make it interesting and exciting. □ What do you do if your relationship is beginning to lose its lustre?

lus|trous /lʌ strəs/ ADJ Something that is lustrous shines brightly and gently, because it has a smooth or shiny surface. □ …a head of thick, lustrous, wavy brown hair.

lusty /lʌ sti/ (lustier , lustiest ) ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that something is lusty , you mean that it is healthy and full of strength and energy. □ …plants with large, lusty roots. □ …remembering his lusty singing in the open park. ● lusti|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Bob ate lustily.

lute /luː t/ (lutes ) N‑VAR A lute is a stringed instrument with a rounded body that is quite like a guitar and is played with the fingers.

luv /lʌ v/ N‑COUNT Luv is a written form of the word 'love', when it is being used as an informal way of addressing someone. [BRIT ] □ 'Don't worry, luv.'

luv|vie /lʌ vi/ (luvvies ) N‑COUNT People sometimes refer to actors as luvvies as a humorous way of criticizing their emotional behaviour and their feeling that they are important. [BRIT , HUMOROUS , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]

luxu|ri|ant /lʌgʒʊə riənt/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Luxuriant plants, trees, and gardens are large, healthy, and growing well. □ …large oak trees with wide spreading branches and luxuriant foliage.

2 ADJ If you describe someone's hair as luxuriant , you mean that it is very thick and healthy. □ Hair that's thick and luxuriant needs regular trimming.

luxu|ri|ate /lʌgʒʊə rie I t/ (luxuriates , luxuriating , luxuriated ) VERB If you luxuriate in something, you relax in it and enjoy it very much, especially because you find it comfortable and luxurious. □ [V + in ] Lie back and luxuriate in the scented oil. □ [V + in ] Ralph was luxuriating in the first real holiday he'd had in years.

luxu|ri|ous /lʌgʒʊə riəs/

1 ADJ If you describe something as luxurious , you mean that it is very comfortable and expensive. □ She had come to enjoy Roberto's luxurious life-style. ● luxu|ri|ous|ly ADV □ The dining-room is luxuriously furnished and carpeted.

2 ADJ Luxurious means feeling or expressing great pleasure and comfort. □ Amy tilted her wine in her glass with a luxurious sigh. ● luxu|ri|ous|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ Liz laughed, stretching luxuriously.

luxu|ry ◆◇◇ /lʌ kʃəri/ (luxuries )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Luxury is very great comfort, especially among beautiful and expensive surroundings. □ By all accounts he leads a life of considerable luxury. □ She was brought up in an atmosphere of luxury and wealth.

2 N‑COUNT A luxury is something expensive which is not necessary but which gives you pleasure. □ A week by the sea is a luxury they can no longer afford. □ Telephones are still a luxury in some parts of Spain, Portugal, and Greece.

3 ADJ [ADJ n] A luxury item is something expensive which is not necessary but which gives you pleasure. □ He could not afford luxury food on his pay. □ He rode on the president's luxury train through his own state.

4 N‑SING A luxury is a pleasure which you do not often have the opportunity to enjoy. □ Hot baths are my favourite luxury. □ [+ of ] We were going to have the luxury of a free weekend, to rest and do whatever we pleased.

lu xu|ry goods N‑PLURAL Luxury goods are things which are not necessary, but which give you pleasure or make your life more comfortable. □ …increased taxes on luxury goods, such as boats, fur coats and expensive cars.

LW LW is an abbreviation for long wave .

SUFFIX -ly

forms adverbs that indicate how something is done. For example, if someone speaks cheerfully , they speak in a cheerful way.

ly|chee /la I tʃiː, [AM ] liː tsiː/ (lychees ) N‑VAR Lychees are Chinese fruit which have white flesh and large stones inside and a pinkish-brown skin.

Ly|cra /la I krə/ N‑UNCOUNT Lycra is a type of stretchy fabric, similar to elastic, which is used to make tight-fitting garments such as tights and swimming costumes. [TRADEMARK ]

ly|ing /la I I ŋ/ Lying is the present participle of lie .

lymph node /l I mf noʊd/ (lymph nodes ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Lymph nodes or lymph glands are small masses of tissue in your body where white blood cells are formed.

lynch /l I ntʃ/ (lynches , lynching , lynched ) VERB If a group of people lynch someone, they kill that person without letting them have a trial, especially by hanging, because they believe that the person has committed a crime. □ [V n] An enraged crowd went to the local prison determined to lynch the people detained there. ● lynch|ing (lynchings ) N‑VAR □ The state cannot tolerate mob rule and lynching.

ly nch mob (lynch mobs )

1 N‑COUNT A lynch mob is an angry crowd of people who want to kill someone without a trial, because they believe that person has committed a crime.

2 N‑COUNT You can refer to a group of people as a lynch mob if they are very angry with someone because they believe that person has done something bad or wrong. □ Something approaching a lynch mob has been gathering against the Chancellor for even daring to consider higher interest rates.

lynch|pin /l I ntʃp I n/ → see linchpin

lynx /l I ŋks/ (lynxes ) N‑COUNT A lynx is a wild animal similar to a large cat.

lyre /la I ə ^r / (lyres ) N‑COUNT A lyre is a stringed instrument that looks like a small harp.

lyr|ic /l I r I k/ (lyrics )

1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The lyrics of a song are its words. □ [+ by ] …Kurt Weill's Broadway opera with lyrics by Langston Hughes.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] Lyric poetry is written in a simple and direct style, and usually expresses personal emotions such as love. □ …Lawrence's splendid short stories and lyric poetry.

lyri|cal /l I r I k ^ə l/

1 ADJ Something that is lyrical is poetic and romantic. □ His paintings became more lyrical. □ …its remarkable free-flowing and often lyrical style.

2 to wax lyrical → see wax

lyri|cism /l I r I s I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Lyricism is gentle and romantic emotion, often expressed in writing, poetry, or music. □ …a natural lyricism which can be expressed through dance and music.

lyri|cist /l I r I s I st/ (lyricists ) N‑COUNT A lyricist is someone who writes the words for modern songs or for musicals.