Confusing Words Clarified Group L
laboratory, lavatory
laboratory (LAB ruh tor" ee, LAB ruh tohr" ee)
A place or location specifically designed for and equipped for scientific investigation, research, or study: "The new laboratory at the university was funded by a pharmaceutical company."
lavatory (LAV uh tor" ee, LAV uh TOHR ee)
A specifically designed room equipped with basins and toilets; often with multiple conveniences: "A public lavatory should always be kept clean and well equipped for its users."
lacks, lax
lacks (LAKS)
To be in need of something or to experience a deficiency: "What this laboratory lacks is a new microscope."
lax (LAKS)
1. Not firm, relaxed, or negligent: "Both parents were lax with their supervision of the children and the children often got into mischief."
2. Not strict enough: "Our university has been lax about enforcing the rules in the dormitories about making so much noise after a specified time."
ladder, later, latter
ladder (LAD uhr)
A specifically designed piece of equipment used for climbing up or down; built with two long side pieces connected at intervals with short pieces upon which the user can step: "I will need to use a long ladder to climb up to the roof to check for leaks."
later (LAYT uhr)
Occurring after the expected or usual time: "The arrival of the train was later than we expected."
latter (LAT uhr)
Characterized as being the second of two items or concepts or the last of a list of items: "Given a choice of buying a roast or ground beef, the latter makes more sense because it is less expensive."
lade, laid
lade (LAYD)
To place on or to load for shipment: "The sailors lade the heavy cargo of bricks at the bottom of the ship for ballast."
laid (LAYD)
1. Placed or deposited: "The hen laid her eggs in a straw lined nest."
"The workers laid the train tracks in the mountains."
2. Having made bets or gambled: "At the race track, he laid his bets on the red horse with the white blaze on her forehead."
3. A duty or burden placed on an individual: "After the explosion, the blame was laid on the contractors for their poor installation."
4. Prepared or made ready: "He laid a fire in the fireplace to warm up the room."
5. A situation presented for review and judgment: "He laid the facts before the judge during the trial."
lain, lane
lain (LAYN)
1. Having remained in a reclining or flat position: "She had lain in bed for two weeks while recovering from the flu."
"The books had lain on the table in the library for several days before being put back on the shelves."
2. Having been in a defenceless or weakened position: "The flooding was caused because the town had lain in the path of the river."
lane (LAYN)
1. A narrow or specified route or passage: "The car drove down the narrow lane which was lined with hedges."
"The shipping lane was marked on the map."
2. The narrow passage lined with hardwood typically used for bowling: "I am anxious to bowl and therefore I will use the first lane that becomes available."
lair, layer
lair (LAIR)
The hiding or resting place for some animals in the wild: "The fox cubs played in front of their lair while their mother watched them."
layer (LAY uhr)
1. An individual or animal that places items carefully: "He was a brick layer by profession."
"That red hen is a good layer."
2. A visible stratum or the overlapping of materials: "At the point where the road was cut, you could see the layer of sandstone between the layers of soft clay."
lam, lamb
lam (LAM)
A sudden or hurried departure often associated with being in conflict with the law: "The radio announced that two convicts were on the lam from the local jail."
lamb (LAM)
1. A young sheep typically less than one year old: "The baby lamb was bleating repeatedly, trying to find its mother."
2. Giving birth to baby sheep: "The shepherd stayed with the flock of ewes when it was time to lamb in case there might be any difficulties."
3. A favorite or vulnerable individual: "My aunt is a perfect lamb and she will do just about anything for me."
lama, llama
lama (LAH muh)
A Tibetan monk: "The lama was revered by many people."
llama (LAH muh)
One of several wild or domesticated animals in South America related to camels but having no hump and when domesticated they are used to carry loads and their wool is used for weaving, etc.: "The woman leads the llama which was carrying baskets of fruit to the local outdoor market."
lame, lame
lame (LAYM) 跛腳的，瘸的
1. Disabled so that movement, especially walking, is difficult or impossible: "Being lame from the accident, she walked with a cane."
"A lame wing kept the bird from flying."
2. Weak and ineffectual; unsatisfactory: "He made a lame attempt to apologize for his slanderous remarks."
"She had some lame excuses for not arriving on time."
lame (la MAY) (金屬)薄板，薄片
A brocaded fabric woven with metallic threads, often of gold or silver: "She wore a very fancy dress made of lame or shiny cloth that contained silver and gold threads."
laps, lapse, Lapps, elapse, relapse
laps (LAPS)
1. The flat spot created when a person is seated which is formed by the tops of the thighs and the upright portion of the abdomen: "The children sat in a circle on the rug with a toy on their laps."
2. To overlay two surfaces in such a manner that there is little or no space between them: "The roofer carefully laps the new shingles so the rain will not get in."
3. The distance covered as on a race course: "The runner ran three laps around the track before tripping and falling down just before the finish line."
4. The conveyance of food or liquid to the mouth using the tongue: "The dog laps the water quickly because he is very thirsty."
lapse (LAPS)
1. An error usually caused by forgetfulness: "Her lapse of memory seemed to be caused by her illness over several months."
2. The termination of protection or coverage in an insurance policy due to lack of payment: "My insurance policy is about to lapse; so, I think I'd better send a check right away."
3. To subside or to sink away gradually from a typical pattern of belief or behavior: "She was ill and slowly began to lapse into a coma."
Lapps (LAPS)
People who live in the Northern Scandinavian countries, Finland, and Northern Russia who are nomadic hunters: "In my circumpolar travels I noticed that the Lapps wore warm and colorful clothing during the winter."
elapse (i LAPS)
A passage or gap in time between events: "There was an elapse of ten years from the time he left home until he decided to return."
relapse (ri LAPS)
A backsliding, recurrence, or worsening: "The doctor told her patient that she was experiencing a relapse of her former illness and should go to bed to rest."
largess, largesse, largest
largess (lahr ZHES, lahr JES, LAHR jes")
Giving generously, often money, to someone in an poor economic situation: "The bank manager’s largess towards the merchant whose business was having financial difficulties was admirable."
largesse (lahr ZHES, lahr JES, LAHR jes")
A variation in the spelling of largess, the act of giving away money or the quality of the person who gives money away: "He relied on the largesse of friends after he lost his job."
largest (LAHRJ ist)
A comparative term (large, larger, largest) to indicate a size or amount greater than the others of the same category: "She was so hungry that she took the largest portion of dessert which was on the platter."
lascivious, licentious, lust
lascivious (luh SIV ee uhs)
Wanton, lewd, or demonstrating behavior that others may consider improper: "In the film, she played a character who was described as a lascivious dancer in a night club."
licentious (ligh SEN shuhs)
Demonstrating behavior that is considered immoral, illegal, and disregarding rules of a typical society; often with a sexual connotation: "The politician was brought before the courts on charges relating to his licentious behaviors."
lust (LUHST)
1. To have a strong desire for something: "Some investors lust so much for money that they completely ignore the potential for losses."
2. Intense longing or sexual desire: "The novel described the lust of the villain for the beautiful and innocent young woman."
last, latest
last (LAST)
1. To continue in a fresh, unimpaired state, for a long period of time: "If you change the water daily, the beautiful flowers will last for at least a week."
2. A form made of metal, wood, plastic, etc. that is shaped like the human foot and is used to create or to mend footwear: "The cobbler used a wooden last to make the fine leather shoes."
3. Being at the end of something or at the final point: "Despite his best efforts, he was the last to finish the race."
latest (LAY tist)
1. The most recent or nearest in order of time: "This tractor is the latest in farm equipment."
2. Recently developed or considered most fashionable: "She always wore the latest fashions and shoes to match."
lateral, literal
lateral (LAT uhr uhl)
Related to or coming from the side: "In the mine, the engineers dug a lateral shaft to explore for silver ore."
literal (LIT uhr uhl)
Sticking to the typical, most common meaning or definition: "While writing an essay for school, she tried hard to maintain a literal description of the events without exaggerating."
"I was using the word in its literal or actual sense."
lath, lathe
lath (LATH, soft or silent as in think or nothing)
Building construction; such as, thin slats of wood fastened to major uprights in a building to create the foundation for applying plaster, tiles, etc.: "The lath in the building was made of redwood and was easy to install."
lathe (LAYth, sounded as with then or father)
A machine that holds the primary material in a horizontal position so it can be rotated against a fixed blade to cut or carve the primary material: "She used the lathe to turn out handsome legs for the new table."
lather, leather
lather (LATH uhr, sounded as with then or father)
1. Soapy foam that is created when soap is agitated in water: "He used a shaving brush to create a soft lather before shaving his face."
2. Characterized as having been worked up into an agitated state: "She was all in a lather about the way the furniture was delivered."
leather (LETH uhr, sounded as with then or father)
Animal skin that has been cured or prepared to be used to make objects; for example, shoes: "He worked in a tannery, preparing the leather to be used in the manufacture of sofas."
Latin, latten
Latin (LAT'n)
The Indo-European language of the ancient Latins and Romans and the most important cultural language of Western Europe until the end of the 17th century: "Latin continues to be an important origin of thousands of English words."
latten (LAT'n)
An alloy of or resembling brass which is hammered into thin sheets: "Latten is often used in the manufacture of church vessels."
latitude, longitude
latitude (LAT i tood", LAT i tyood)
1. Characterized by freedom of choice: "The school curriculum gave the teachers considerable latitude in terms of planning daily lessons."
2. In geography, a series of imaginary lines that are drawn around the earth parallel to the equator, uniform distances from each other: "The line of latitude on the map went right through my town which was indicated on the map."
longitude (LAHN ji tood", LAHN ji tyood")
On a map, imaginary lines that are drawn around the earth, passing through both poles and which are at right angles to the equator: "Lines of longitude are useful to identify one location on a north to south axis."
laud, lord
laud (LAWD)
To praise or to extol: "He spoke to laud his predecessor and to thank her for her support."
lord (LORD)
1. To act in a manner suggestive of being superior to others: "Because he lived in the country, he always tried to lord it over his friends who lived in the city."
2. A male ruler or land owner who has his office typically through inheritance: "The lord of the manor was an agreeable person and well liked."
laudable, laudatory
laudable (LAW duh buhl)
Meriting praise and worthy comment: "His performance in the equestrian events was laudable and brought him the blue ribbon award."
laudatory (LAW duh tor" ee, LAW duh tohr" ee)
Expressing praise or commendation: "Her speech was overflowing with laudatory comments about her colleagues."
lay, lei
lay (LAY)
1. A description of fiber rope including reference to the twist, angle of the strands and the angle of the threads in the strands: "The sailor was very knowledgeable about the lay of each rope on the ship."
2. To bet; "I will lay my ten coins that I am right."
3. To put down or to set in an order: "I will lay the table for six for dinner."
"I will lay my books on the desk."
4. To place a burden or punishment on someone: "The Sheriff will lay charges of theft against the three men."
lei (LAY, LAY ee)
A circular arrangement of flowers and foliage for decorative purposes: "When I went to Hawaii for my vacation, the host gave me a beautiful lei to wear around my neck."
leach, leech
leach (LEECH)
1. To remove a chemical, a metal, etc. from a substance by the action of a liquid passing through the substance: "It's possible that just a small amount of rain can leach toxic materials from the soil."
2. To draw out or to remove as if by percolation or seepage; to dissolve, to remove, or to wash out: "She poured water through the ashes from the fireplace to leach the lye in the ash so she could make soap."
leech (LEECH)
1. Any of several blood sucking worms (Hirudinea): "In ancient medicine, the doctors would use a leech to draw blood from an ill person, hoping to make that person well."
2. To use a blood sucking worm for medicinal purposes: "The doctor said the only thing he could do for the patient was to leech her arm and hope for the best."
"One species of leech has been used in medical treatments to bleed patients or to eat away putrid flesh from a wound."
3. Someone who uses other people for personal gain or anyone who tries to get what he or she can swindle from others: "Celebrities often have at least one leech, who is trying to leech them for money or other material rewards."
Is it proper to say that a leech can leach blood from an animal?
As a matter of fact, a leech is known to leech blood and dead flesh from bodies while leaching is quite a different process."
In chemical engineering, leaching is the procedure used for separating a soluble substance from a solid by washing or by the percolation of water or other liquid through the substance, as when making coffee.
In geochemistry, leaching is specifically, the natural or artificial removal of soluble substances from rock, ore, or layers of soil by the action of percolating substances; such as, water.
A medicinal leech, known as Hirudo medicinalis was utilized in the distant past and is being used again in the modern application of leeching blood from patients for specialized procedures.
There is also a tool being used by medical doctors called an artificial leech which consists of a cup and suction pump, or syringe, for drawing blood.
lead, lead, led
lead (LEED)
1. To guide or to direct by going ahead or advancing first: "The guides will lead us through the jungle."
2. To take action towards a goal: "The contract negotiations with the union should lead to a settlement of grievances."
3. The introductory news story of importance: "The lead story in the morning edition of the paper was about the fire in the factory."
4. A length of rope or cord measured from end to end: "The lead for the pony was short so the groom could guide it in a circle."
lead (LED)
1. A soft, gray metal (Pb) that is used for solder, in batteries, and in shields for radiation purposes: "Before having an X-ray, the technician placed a lead shield over the patient throat."
2. Feeling weighted down: "My heart felt like lead when I heard the news of the accident."
led (LED)
1. Guided or advanced: "We were led through the crowd to a nice table in the restaurant."
2. To have completed action towards a goal: "The path up the mountain led to the summit from which we had a glorious view."
3. When capitalized, LED is an acronym for Light Emitting Diode which is a semiconductor diode used in electronic displays; such as, a digital watch: "It is easy to read my LED watch."
In the past, he led but now if he wants to lead he will have to quit dragging his feet as if they were made of lead.
leak, leek
leak (LEEK)
1. To become known despite efforts of secrecy: "The news about their secret marriage was because of an accidental leak to the press."
2. To let a substance or light pass through an opening: "I am afraid the roof will leak during the thunderstorm."
leek (LEEK)
An edible plant related to the onion and having a white, slender bulb and flat, dark-green leaves: "Soup made with leek, potatoes, and cream is very delicious."
lean, lien
lean (LEEN)
1. Lacking in essential ingredients or quality: "The corn crop was lean this year because of the lack of rain."
2. Having little or no fat: "I will buy a lean roast of beef for dinner."
3. Bent or deviating from a vertical position: "I am so tired, I think I will lean against this tree and rest for a few minutes."
4. To be inclined towards an opinion or desire: "My tendency is to lean towards chocolate pie for dessert."
lien (LEEN, LEE uhn)
The right to take and hold or sell the property of a debtor as security or payment for a debt or duty: "The bank had a lien on the house of the former business man who was in debt."
learn, teach
learn (LURN)
To gain knowledge through experience, instruction, or study: "The teacher informed us that we would learn about history by taking trips to the local site."
teach (TEECH)
To impart knowledge or skills to others: "Our auto mechanics instructor will teach us to change a tire."
leased, least
leased (LEES)
The process through which the use of property or equipment is given to an individual for a fixed period of time and for a specific cost: "The farmer leased a new tractor to use during his busy season."
least (LEEST)
The smallest in size or the lowest in importance: "Getting a new car is the least of my concerns."
"Compared to the other puppies, Spot was the least of the litter."
least, lest
least (LEEST)
Smallest or slightest quantity or degree: "It is at least twice as cold today as it was yesterday."
lest (LEST)
1. For fear that something will be discovered: "He tiptoed into the house lest the children should hear him."
2. Used as an expression suggesting fear or worry: "He was worried lest he lose his job because he was late two days in a row."
leave, let
leave (LEEV)
1. Permission or authorization to do something: "Do I have your leave to go to the concert in the park this evening?"
2. To go away; to end an association with something: "After school we will all leave for our summer jobs."
3. Continuing after someone's death: "He will leave a young son and daughter when he dies."
4. Remaining as an after effect: "Spilling red berries on a white shirt will leave a stain that is difficult to remove."
let (LET)
1. To rent: "The landlord let the apartment to the students."
2. To provide an opportunity: "The error in calculation let him get a higher grade on the test than he expected."
"Climbing the tower let the tourists have a spectacular view of the city."
3. To allow passage: "Will you let me into the room, please."
leaves, leaves
leaves (LEEVZ), verbs
1. Going away from a place or from a person: "She leaves home to go to work and leaves her husband to take care of the children."
2. Putting something in a place for another person to take or to have: "The mail person leaves our newspaper subscription in our box every day except on Sunday."
3. Allowing something to remain available or unused: "Make sure he leaves some room for an additional chair at the table."
leaves (LEEVZ), nouns
1. Flat and typically green parts of plants that grow from stems or twigs: "We could hear the rustling of the autumn leaves during the evening."
2. Sheets of paper in books, magazines, and other published documents: "There were several leaves in the book that were missing or without being printed."
Our neighbor leaves his fallen leaves piling up in his yard without ever raking them up.
leeward, windward
leeward (LEE wuhrd, LOO uhrd)
The point towards which the wind is blowing: "The wind was blowing leeward around the end of the island."
windward (WIND wuhrd)
The point from which the wind is blowing: "The windward direction of the breeze was south west."
legislator, legislature
legislator (LEJ i slay" tuhr)
Someone who creates or enacts laws; especially, a member of a legislative body: "If you want someone to pass a law, then you should write to your state legislator."
legislature (LEJ i slay" chuhr)
An officially elected or otherwise selected body of people vested with the responsibility and power to make laws for a political unit; such as, a state or nation: "Every state in the U.S. has its own legislature which makes laws for everyone within its jurisdiction."
lend, loan
lend (LEND)
1. To give money to an individual with the expectation of repayment within a specific time frame: "I will lend you the money to buy your car and I expect you to repay it in six months."
2. To give support or assistance: "I will lend you my sleeping bag so you can go camping with your friends."
3. To adjust or to accommodate: "That topic will lend itself to a valuable discussion in class."
loan (LOHN)
Money given to an individual for a specific time frame and with a specified interest rate payable upon repayment: "The bank agreed to give me a six month loan to buy my new car at five percent interest."
lessee, lesser, lessor
lessee (le SEE)
An individual who enjoys the use of property or equipment for a specific time period and for a defined cost: "The car rental agency asked the driver to sign the contract as the lessee."
lesser (LES uhr)
That which is of a smaller quantity or size: "When looking at the pumpkins, I chose the lesser of the three that were on display."
lessor (LES or, le SOR)
An individual who owns property, etc. and allows another to use it on a temporary basis for a fee: "The landlord, as my lessor, agreed to let me the apartment."
lessen, lesson
lessen (LES uhn)
To make less (not as great in amount or quantity); to reduce, to diminish: "The medication the doctor gave me will lessen the pain of my sprained ankle."
lesson (LES uhn)
1. An excerpt from sacred writings read as part of a religious service or ceremony: "The child read the lesson for the morning in a clear voice."
2. Readings or other materials to be studied and learned by a pupil: "It is time for me to practice my music lesson."
The teacher wanted to decrease the content of her next class presentation; so, she told her students that she will lessen the next lesson.
levee, levy
levee (LEV ee)
1. A gathering or reception organized by a person of importance, typically first thing in the morning: "The Governor had his annual levee on New Year Day."
2. An embankment or dike to prevent flooding: "The engineers designed a new levee on the river after the recent devastating floods."
levy (LEV ee)
1. To collect or to enlist through an order of legal authority: "The governor attempted to levy construction engineers to assist with the building of houses for the homeless."
2. An amount of money that is collected by a government agent: "The town clerk was ordered to collect a levy from the local merchants in anticipation of building a new park in the city."
level, level
level (LEV uhl)
1. At a specific height: "We decided to hang the pictures just above eye level in the studio."
2. A part of a building which is at a specific height: "Reservations were made so they could have good seats in the upper level of the theater."
3. A process of thinking about, talking about, or dealing with something: "They thought that the politician's position was acceptable on an emotional level, but not on a practical level."
level (LEV uhl)
1. Having a flat or even surface: "They looked for a level place near the woods for their tents."
2. To direct something; such as, a criticism or a legal action against someone: "The police will level a criminal charge against the shoplifter."
liable, libel, slander
liable (LIGH uh buhl)
1. At risk for an accident: "Be careful on the ladder because you are liable to fall."
2. Legally responsible: "You are liable for the repayment of your bank loan."
3. Bound or obliged in law or equity; responsible; chargeable; answerable; compelled to make satisfaction, compensation, or restitution: "The borrower is liable for the repayment of the loan he made with the bank."
"The husband and wife were told that they were liable for their debts to the store."
libel (LIGH buhl)
1. A statement (written or oral) that expresses an unjust impression: "The angry statements in the newspaper appeared almost to be statements of libel."
2. Uttering or publishing slanderous, treasonable, or obscene statements about someone: "The defeated candidate tried to libel his opponents after the election."
slander (SLAN duhr)
Oral statements that defame another person's reputation; false charges: "It is inappropriate to utter such slander about our neighbor."
"He was arrested on the basis of slander brought against him by a worker."
liar, lyre
liar (LIGH uhr)
An individual who makes statements which are untrue and not based on fact: "He was such a frequent liar that no one would believe him when he did tell the truth."
lyre (LIGHR)
A stringed instrument of the harp family having two curved arms connected at the upper end by a crossbar, used to accompany a singer or reciter of poetry; especially, in ancient Greece: "The frieze around the ancient temple depicted many performers each of whom was playing a lyre."
The man was wondering if the stringed musical instrument was a liar, or lacking in veracity, since it was called a lyre.
A liar is a person who, when he dies, lies still. Evan Esar
liberal, libertarian, libertine, liberty
liberal (LIB uhr uhl, LIB ruhl)
1. Generous and open handed: "His father was liberal in his allowance each week."
2. Not exact or precise: "The translation of the lecture notes was not liberal but it was meaningful anyway."
3. Broad minded, not traditional: "Her upbringing was very liberal."
4. When capitalized, it is a member of a certain political party in the United Kingdom and in Canada: "The Liberal candidate won the election by a wide margin."
libertarian (lib" uhr TAIR ee uhn)
A supporter of the principles of free will including unrestricted freedoms in thought, actions, etc.: "The actions of a libertarian must be balanced against the protocols and expectations of society."
libertine (LIB uhr teen")
1. A free thinker in matters of religious thought, a reference that is often used in a disparaging manner: "As a religious libertine, my uncle gained a reputation for being irreverent."
2. An individual who is disdainful of convention and morality: "He acted as a libertine, exploring the bars and places of poor reputation."
liberty (LIB uhr tee)
1. Freedom from physical or arbitrary control: "I treasure my liberty after I read the headlines in the newspapers."
2. Opportunity or choice: "I have the liberty to decide between two careers."
3. Risk, moving away from typical practice: "By smoking and heavy drinking, he was taking severe liberty with his health."
4. A short, authorized leave, usually in the context of military organizations: "He asked for and was granted a 48-hour liberty to visit his family."
lichen, liken
lichen (LIGH kuhn)
One of several thallophytic (Lichenes) or sea plants that live in a symbiotic relationship with a host; for example, growing on rocks or walls: "The lichen on the rocks was multicolored and fascinating."
liken (LIGH kuhn)
To compare as similar: "In his poem, the author tried to liken the shine in her eyes to the stars in the sky."
lick, lick
lick (LIK); verb
1. To pass the tongue over a surface, an object, etc.: "The dog wanted to lick its dish before going outside."
2. Informal, to defeat someone in a fight or contest: "He's bigger, but her brother thinks he can lick the guy in wrestling."
lick (LIK); noun
1. An act of passing the tongue over something: "The cat gave the bowl a lick."
"The dog was trying to get a lick of the cat's eating dish."
2. A small amount: "The chair needs just a lick of paint right there on the leg."
"He hasn't done a lick of work today."
licorice, lickerish
licorice (LIK uhr is, LIK uhr ish)
A confection made from or flavored with the root of a plant which is used as a flavoring in candy, liqueurs, tobacco, and medicines: "The children enjoyed chewing on the ropes of licorice which made their tongues black."
lickerish (LIK uhr ish)
Greedy, desirous; lecherous: "The role in the film was of a lickerish old man and the actor was interested in the part because it would expand his acting experience and reputation."
lie, lay
lie (LIGH)
1. A false statement deliberately presented as being true; a falsehood: "The principal confronted the children, telling them not to lie to her."
2. The manner or position in which something is situated; such as, a horizontal position: "I want to lie down on the couch for a few minutes because I am too tired to do anything until I get some rest."
lay (LAY)
1. As a religious reference; an individual who may perform some activities in a church but who is not ordained: "The lay minister read the lesson for the day."
2. To hit, to beat down or to strike: "The gang leader threatened to lay me low if I told the police what happened."
3. To place, to set or to position in a particular location: "Please lay all the maps on the table so I can look at them."
4. To impose a duty or a penalty: "The government may lay a heavy tax on the importing of machinery."
lie, lye
lie (LIGH)
1. A deceptive or misleading statement, typically spoken on purpose: "She told a terrible lie which caused a lot of problems for her sister."
2. To state something that is false and not based on fact: "I promised to lie about where my friend was last night."
3. To rest in a recumbent and horizontal position: "I decided to lie on the sofa for a few minutes to rest after my busy afternoon."
lye (LIGH)
The liquid obtained by leaching wood ashes: "In the Pioneer Museum, the staff demonstrated how to use lye to make soap."
light, light
light (LIGHT)
Having little weight or less weight than usual: "The man made every effort to make sure his suitcase was light enough to carry to the bus depot."
"The back pack was light enough for the young boy to carry."
light (LIGHT)
1. The discharge of electricity in the atmosphere: "The thunderstorm was accompanied by a display of light that was very bright."
2. A form of energy hat makes it possible to see things; especially, at night: "It was time to turn on the living room light."
3. Not dark or of a deep color: "She has light hair and a light complexion."
"During the storm, we had to use candles so we could have enough light to see our way around because the electricity was cut off."
lightening, lightning
lightening (LIGHT ning)
To make something less heavy, difficult, or severe: "Others helped out in lightening his heavy load."
"I will be lightening your responsibilities by hiring another staff person."
lightning (LIGHT ning)
The discharge of electricity in the atmosphere: "The thunderstorm was accompanied by a lightning display that was somewhat frightening."
likely, likely
likely (LIGHK lee)
Possessing or displaying the qualities or characteristics that make something probable: "They are likely to become angry with him because of his vulgar presentations on the radio."
"There were several likely candidates for the manager's position."
likely (LIGHK lee)
1. Apt to achieve success or to yield a desired outcome; promising: "He presented a likely topic for investigation."
2. Attractive; pleasant: "We found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic."
linage, lineage
linage (LIGH nij)
1. The number of lines of printed or written material: "The computer calculated the linage of the article for publication."
2. Payment for written work at a specified amount per line: "Her book contract was calculated on payment per linage which encouraged her to write lengthy paragraphs."
lineage (LIN ee ij)
The descendants of a common ancestor considered to be the founder of the line of ancestors: "The family tree shows the lineage of my entire family."
lineament, liniment
lineament (LIN ee uh muhnt)
A distinctive shape, contour, or line; especially, of the face: "The lineament of the actor’s face was classical, looking almost like a Grecian goddess."
liniment (LIN uh muhnt)
A medicinal fluid rubbed into the skin to soothe pain or to relieve stiffness: "The liniment the doctor gave me for my sore ankle is really helping a lot."
linear, lineal
linear (LIN ee uhr)
Relating to, or resembling a line; straight: "The road proceeded in a linear manner, straight across the desert."
lineal (LIN ee uhl)
Belonging to or being in the direct line of descent from an ancestor: "My lineal heritage to the property was through my mother's side of the family."
links, lynx
links (LINGKS)
1. With computers, segments of text or graphical items that serve as cross-references between parts of a hypertext document to other files or hypertext documents: "This web site has thousands of convenient links connecting content pages to other content topics."
2. Coupled or joined: "The chain links were fastened to the post."
3. Something similar to a chain: "The sausage links were delicious."
lynx (LINGKS)
Any of a variety of wild cats in Northern Europe, Asia, and North America which are characterized by long legs, a stubby tail, a mottled coat, and tufted ears: "When we drove through the mountains, we saw two lynx high on the cliff."
Is it possible that North American lynx have any links to the Eurasian wildcats with the same name?
liqueur, liquor
liqueur (li KUR, li KYOOR)
Any of various strongly flavored alcoholic beverages typically served in small quantities after dinner: "Will you have a liqueur after dinner?."
liquor (LIK uhr)
An alcoholic beverage made by distillation rather than by fermentation: "There are several distilleries in our town which make the popular liquor."
literal, littoral
literal (LIT uhr uhl)
1. Being in accordance with, conforming to, or upholding the exact or primary meaning of a word or words: "She wrote her essay, paying careful attention to the literal meaning of the words she used."
2. Word for word; verbatim: "He presented a literal translation of the doctor's prognosis."
littoral (LIT uhr uhl)
1. On a shore; especially, a seashore: "He referred to the littoral biogeographic zone on the coast."
2. The region or zone between the limits of high and low tides of a shore: "The sandpiper tiptoed across the littoral looking for things to eat."
literary, literate
literary (LIT uh rer" ee)
Relating to writers or the profession of literature: "He was well-known in literary circles for his literary criticism."
literate (LIT kuhr it)
1. Having the ability to read and to write: "She was literate in both English and French."
2. Knowledgeable or educated in a particular field or fields: "She was recognized as being a literate or a well-informed and educated person in the field of biology."
litigation, mitigation
litigation (LIT i gay" shuhn)
A contested legal case before the courts: "She was an exceptional lawyer who specialized in litigation in the courts."
mitigation (MITI gay" shuhn)
Less harsh or painful: "During the conference, the two lawyers agreed to the mitigation of the sentence of the court."
litter, litter
litter (LIT uhr), noun
1. Things that have been disposed of or thrown away and which are lying on the ground in a public place: "We had difficulty in understanding why people throw so much litter in the streets."
2. Dry material which is spread in a container and used as a toilet by animals; such as cats, while they are in people's homes: "The father placed litter in the cat's litter box and since the family also had a rabbit in their home, they also used litter in its cage."
3. A group of young animals that are born together: "Our dog had a litter of cute puppies yesterday, but not quite as cute as the litter of kittens that were born last month."
4. The uppermost layer of the forest floor consisting chiefly of fallen leaves and other decaying organic matter: "During our walk in the nearby woods this fall, we shuffled our feet through the litter of newly fallen leaves."
litter (LIT uhr), verb
1. To cover a surface with many things in an untidy way: "He was aware that he had a tendency to litter his desk with notes, books, and other items that should be organized and arranged for easier access."
2. To litter is also used in a figurative sense: "Too many vulgar words litter his vocabulary whenever he talks."
3. To throw or to leave trash on the ground in a public place: "It is illegal to litter the streets and some people have to pay a fine for littering when they are caught by the right city officials."
"As usual, people will no doubt litter the streets with paper cups, food wrappings, and other kinds of litter during the parade tomorrow."
lives, lives
lives (LIGVZ), noun
The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms and inanimate matter, manifested in functions; such as, metabolism, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment originating from within the organism: "Our friends have lived in this same town all their lives."
lives (LIVZ), verb
To exist, to reside; to dwell: "The good that people do lives long after they are gone; regrettably, the evil that they do lives in the memories of those who have been harmed, too."
livid, vivid
livid (LIV id)
1. Considerably angry: "During the argument, his face was livid and his voice harsh."
2. Discolored by bruising: "After the car accident, she had several livid marks on her face and arms."
vivid (VIV id)
1. Highly colored: "After a walk in the snow, her cheeks were vivid and glowing."
2. Creating a strong impression, usually positive; "Her vivid personality impressed her new employers."
lo, low
lo (LOH)
Used to attract attention to something or to show wonder or surprise: "Lo, the king is approaching."
"The adventures we have shared for lo these many years."
low (LOH)
1. Having little relative height; not high or tall: "The sun was low in the western sky."
2. The sound characteristic of a cow: "I heard the low of the cattle in the barn."
3. Marking the bottom of something: "He was at the low point of his career."
4. Not having typical strength or health: "She was feeling very low today and decided to stay in bed."
5. Characterized as not being loud: "The singer was able to handle the low notes in the aria."
6. A description of something as being below the normal surface: "The level of the water in the river was low because there had been no rain for weeks."
load, lode, lowed
load (LOHD)
1. Something that is lifted and carried: "He was carrying a heavy load of legal papers in his briefcase."
2. Something that causes worry or sadness: "Her death is a heavy load to bear."
3. To cause a program, file, etc. to start functioning or to be displayed on the computer's monitor: "This new program takes less time to load now than it did before."
lode (LOHD)
An amount of a mineral; such as, gold or silver, that fills a crack or space in rock which is often used in a figurative sense: "In her books, she appeared to mine the seemingly endless lode of her personal life."
"The library's collection of old newspapers has proven to be a mother lode of information about the town's early history."
lowed (LOHD)
The characteristic sound uttered by cattle; a moo: "You could hear the cattle as they lowed in the pasture."
loam, loan, lone
loam (LOHM)
1. A composition for plastering that is made primarily of wet clay: "The workers mixed an excellent loam for plastering the interior of the African cottage."
2. Soil which is a mixture of clay, sand, and silt: "The gardener was happy with the new loam for the flower beds."
loan (LOHN)
The temporary use of something; for example, property or money for a set period of time and for a set fee which must be repaid within a specific time frame: "The bank agreed to loan him the money so he could complete his education."
lone (LOHN)
Solitary, without any company: "She was the lone student enrolled in the reading course."
loath, loathe
loath (LOHTH, silent or soft as in think or nothing)
Not willing to undertake an activity which is against the individual's personal beliefs: "She was loath to borrow the money from her friend even though she wanted to buy the new shoes."
loathe (LOTH, silent or soft as in think or nothing)
Disgusted, a great dislike: "I really am loathe to get my feet wet in the winter."
local, locale
local (LOH kuhl)
1. Not generally wide spread, relating to a specific location: "The sudden storm appeared to be local and did not affect other parts of the countryside."
2. Serving or representing a limited and specific area: "We try to buy local produce during the summer."
locale (loh KAL)
A specific place relating to a site or a particular event: "We enjoyed the locale of the countryside near the author's home."
loch, lock
loch (LAHKH, LAHK)
A lake or an arm of the sea similar to a fjord: "This is the famous loch where a monster is alleged to live."
lock (LAHK)
1. A device operated by a key, combination, or keycard and used, as on a door, for holding, closing, or securing something: "When she bought her condominium, she changed the lock on the front door."
2. A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section: "After we paid our fee, the lock master allowed us into the lock and raised us to the next level of the river."
3. A ringlet or small bunch of hair: "He carried a lock of her hair to remind himself how much he missed her."
locks, lox
locks (LAHKS)
1. A device operated by a key, combination, or keycard, and used, as on a door, for holding, closing, or securing it: "There were double locks on the doors to allow entry to the High Security area of the factory."
2. A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section: "We entered a series of locks on the river to travel from one lake to the next."
3. A person's hair: "People couldn't help but appreciate, or envy, her curly locks."
lox (LAHKS)
1. Smoked salmon: "We had bagels and lox for lunch."
2. Liquid oxygen, especially when used as a rocket fuel oxidizer or for medical treatment [l(iquid) + ox(ygen)]: "LOX is a common liquid oxidizer propellant for spacecraft rocket applications, usually in combination with liquid hydrogen or kerosene."
"The dermatologist used lox to get rid of the warts on her feet."
The fish dealer kept the lox behind the doors with special locks.
locus, locust
locus (LOH kuhs)
The focus or center of activity: "The sports stadium was the locus of the students' activities."
locust (LOH kuhst)
1. Grasshoppers which often swarm an area and devastate the vegetation: "The farmers were fearful of a locust invasion during the summer."
2. Any of several hard wood, leguminous trees: "We had a row of locust trees in the garden to provide shade."
loom, loom; loon, loon; lune, lune
loom, verb form, (LOOM)
1. To appear in a large, strange, or frightening form often in a sudden way: "The ship was seen to loom up out of the fog."
2. To appear in an impressively large or great form: "The mountains loom above the valley."
3. To be close to happening: "A workers' strike is about to loom."
4. To have great importance or influence: "Rising tuition costs loom large in the minds of many parents and those students who want to go to colleges or universities."
loom, noun form, (LOOM)
A frame or machine that is used to weave threads or yarns to produce cloth: "My grandmother often used a loom to make cloth for her family's wearing apparel."
Before Toyota started to manufacture automobiles, the company developed, and used, an automatic loom invented by Sakichi Toyoda, founder of the Toyota Group.
The automatic loom was a machine that could spin thread for cloth and it weaved textiles automatically. In those early days, back-strap looms, ground looms, and high-warp looms were used to manually weave cloth.
In 1896, Sakichi Toyoda invented Japan's first self-powered loom called the "Toyoda Power Loom". Later, he incorporated numerous revolutionary inventions into his looms, including the weft-breakage automatic stopping device, which automatically stopped the loom when a thread breakage was detected, the warp supply device, and the automatic shuttle changer.
Since the loom stopped when a problem arose, no defective products were produced. This meant that a single operator could be put in charge of numerous looms, resulting in a tremendous improvement in productivity.
loon (LOON)
A crazy person: "That guy is a complete loon."
loon (LOON)
A large bird that lives in the northern parts of the world and which eats fish and has a loud and strange cry: "When we were on the coast, we could hear one loon after another making their strange screeching sounds."
lune (LOON)
1. In geometry, a figure resembling a crescent, formed on a plane or sphere by two arcs of circles: "He drew a lune so he could explain what it is."
2. Anything shaped like a crescent: "There are examples of figures that have a lune shape.
lune (LOON)
In hawking, a leash for hawks: "The man had a lune attached to his hawk as he carried the bird out to the field for training."
loose, lose
loose (LOOS)
1. Not fitting closely: "My new jacket has a loose fit which is fashionable."
2. Unrestrained: "Foot loose and fancy free is an expression to suggest someone is unattached and can enjoy him or herself."
3. Not compact or dense: "The loose gravel on the road made driving difficult."
4. Allowing for free interpretation: "That is a loose translation of the President’s speech."
lose (LOOZ)
1. To misplace something from a typical location: "I tend to lose my glasses when I am busy."
2. Not keeping something under control; failure to maintain: "I am afraid I will lose control and start to cry at the movies."
"When I am hiking I am always afraid I will lose my balance and fall."
3. Failure to stay focused on a subject or idea: "Did I lose your attention when I was speaking?"
An example of how some people misuse lose and loose:
"I just got my kindle 2 last week and It is wonderful for reading. I suffer from double vision and even with corrective lenses I often loose my place in print books. The Kindle allows me to increase the font size so that I can read easily and fast with out loosing my place.
An actual quote from a writer on the internet."
loot, lute
loot (LOOT)
1. That which has been taken illegally or through violence: "The pirates' loot was splendid and the jewels glittered in the sun."
2. To rob or to steal usually accompanied by violence: "The highway robbers threatened to loot the stage coach if the driver did not cooperate."
2. A casual expression referring to gifts which can be taken away by children from a party: "Each child had a bag of loot to take home after the birthday party."
lute (LOOT)
1. A stringed musical instrument which has a rounded body like a pear, a finger board, and is tuned by turning pegs on the head: "The lute is a gentle instrument which was played to accompany the singer in her recital."
2. Clay or a similar substance which when packed around pipes, etc., is used to protect against the leakage of liquid or gas: "When he had completed his work, the plumber coated the pipes and joints with lute to prevent moisture from leaking out of them."
lore, lower
lore (LOHR)
1. Traditional knowledge learned through study or experience: "For her dissertation she studied and wrote about the lore of the sailors on the whaling ships."
2. The small distance between the eyes of a bird and the bill or similarly in reptiles or fish: "The scientist developed specialized instruments to measure the lore of the water birds."
lower (LOHR)
1. To look gloomy or threatening: "His face appeared to lower after reading the news in the paper.'
2. Representing the typically larger and more representative section in a bicameral legislature: "She was proud to be elected to the lower house of government as she thought she would be most effective there."
3. To let down; to reduce in height: "It is time to lower the flag."
4. A position of rank, order, or physical location that is under or below something or someone else: "Her chair is lower than the others because she is short and her feet would not touch the floor otherwise."
lucre, looter
lucre (LOO kuhr)
Profit or money: "There was much lucre to be had in the stock market."
looter (LOOT uhr)
An individual who engages in stealing or taking property typically through force: "The pirate was a looter for several years before he was caught."
lugubrious, salubrious
lugubrious (loo GOO bree uhs, loo GYOO bree uhs)
Mournful or an exaggerated sadness: "He wore lugubrious mourning clothing although he did not feel sad about his uncle's death."
salubrious (suh LOO bree uhs)
Promoting good health or well being: "The mountain air is considered salubrious for one's health and well being."
lumbar, lumber
lumbar (LUM buhr, lum BAHR)
Relating to the area between the thoracic vertebrae and the region of the sacrum or pelvis: "When he fell, he injured the lumbar region of his back and was in considerable pain."
lumber (LUM buhr)
1. To move heavily often as a result of carrying great weight: "The weight of the luggage caused the porter to lumber across the station platform."
2. Logs or lengths of wood that are cut specifically to be used for construction; the store or location which sells the prepared logs, etc.: "I went to the lumber yard to purchase the lumber I needed to build a shed in my back yard."
lung, lunge
lung (LUNG)
A respiratory organ of vertebrates, often occurring in pairs: "The doctor listened to my lung in an effort to detect any infection that might exist."
lunge (LUNJ)
1. As a verb, a sudden forward reach or jab accompanied by a leaning or stepping forward: "My fencing instructor showed me how to lunge with my sword."
"You could see the crocodile lunge at its prey."
2. As a noun, a sudden forward movement: "He made a desperate lunge for the ball."
luxuriant, luxurious
luxuriant (lug ZHOOR ee uhnt, luk SHOOR uhnt)
Fertile, abundant: "There was a luxuriant crop of clover in the fields."
luxurious (lug ZHOOR ee uhs, luk SHOOR ee uhs)
Exceedingly costly or self indulgent: "There appeared to be luxurious rugs on the floor of the palace."
"I feel very luxurious whenever I go to the spa."
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