English Words Starting With L

• lactarian

  nounRare/Very Low
  /lakˈteə.ri.ən/A person who consumes dairy products, but no meat.
• lactase

  nounC1
  /ˈlæk.teɪz/An enzyme produced in the small intestine that breaks down lactose (milk sugar) into glucose and galactose.
• lactate

  nounverb-intransitiveC1
  /lakˈteɪt/To secrete milk.
• lactate dehydrogenase

  nounlow
  /ˌlæk.teɪt ˌdiː.haɪˈdʒɒdʒ.ə.neɪz/An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of lactate to pyruvate and back, as part of cellular energy metabolism.
• lactation

  nounC1
  /lakˈteɪ.ʃən/The secretion of milk by the mammary glands, or the period during which this occurs.
• lactation tetany

  nounVery Low (C2+)
  /lakˈteɪ.ʃən ˈtɛt.ən.i/A metabolic disorder causing muscle spasms, tremors, or convulsions in lactating animals, especially dairy cows, due to low calcium levels in the blood.
• lacteal

  adjectivenounC2/Rare
  /ˈlæk.ti.əl/relating to, containing, or resembling milk; specifically, of or pertaining to the lymphatic vessels that absorb digested fats from the small intestine in the form of a milky fluid (chyle).
• lactic acid

  nounLow
  /ˌlæk.tɪk ˈæs.ɪd/A sour-tasting organic acid present in sour milk and produced in muscles during intense exercise.
• lactivist

  adjectivenounC1/C2
  /ˈlæk.tɪ.vɪst/A person who strongly advocates for and promotes breastfeeding, sometimes in a militant or confrontational manner.
• lacto-ovo-vegetarian

  adjectivenounB2
  /ˌlaktəʊ ˌəʊvəʊ ˌvedʒɪˈteəriən/A person who does not eat meat, poultry, or fish, but does consume dairy products and eggs.
• lacto-vegetarian

  nounC1
  /ˌlæk.təʊ ˌvedʒ.əˈteə.ri.ən/A person whose diet excludes meat, poultry, fish, seafood and eggs, but includes dairy products.
• lactobacillus

  nounC2
  /ˌlæk.təʊ.bəˈsɪl.əs/A genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, anaerobic bacteria that produce lactic acid from carbohydrates.
• lactoferrin

  nounC1
  /ˌlæk.təʊˈfer.ɪn/A glycoprotein found in milk and other bodily secretions, that binds to iron and has antimicrobial properties.
• lactoflavin

  nounVery Rare
  /ˌlaktə(ʊ)ˈfleɪvɪn/A yellow water-soluble vitamin of the B complex that is essential for energy production and cellular function; also called riboflavin.
• lactogenic hormone

  nounVery Rare
  /ˌlæk.təʊˈdʒɛn.ɪk ˈhɔː.məʊn/A hormone that stimulates the production of milk in mammals.
• lactoglobulin

  nounC2
  /ˌlaktəʊˈɡlɒbjʊlɪn/The primary protein found in the whey of milk.
• lactometer

  nounC2
  /lakˈtɒm.ɪ.tə/An instrument for measuring the specific gravity (and thus the purity or richness) of milk.
• lactone

  nounLow
  /ˈlæk.təʊn/A cyclic organic compound formed by the intramolecular condensation of a hydroxy carboxylic acid, resembling a cyclic ester.
• lactonize

  verb-ambitransitiveRare
  /ˈlæk.tə.naɪz/(Chemistry) To convert a compound, typically a hydroxy acid, into a lactone (a cyclic ester).
• lactoprotein

  nounC2
  /ˌlæk.təʊˈprəʊ.tiːn/A protein that is found in milk.

Showing 241–260 of 5456 words.