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English Words Starting With L

5,456 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Suffix Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

liftback
nounC1
/ˈlɪft.bæk/A car body style that resembles a sedan but has a single, large rear door hinged at the roof which lifts upwards, providing access to the cargo area.
liftboy
nounVery low / Archaic
/ˈlɪftbɔɪ/A boy or young man employed to operate an elevator and assist passengers.
lifter
nounB2
/ˈlɪf.tər/A person or device that raises something upwards.
liftgate
nounLow
/ˈlɪft.ɡeɪt/A hinged door at the rear of a vehicle (typically an SUV, hatchback, or minivan) that opens upward to provide access to the cargo area.
lifting body
nounVery Low
/ˈlɪftɪŋ ˌbɒdi/An aircraft or spacecraft design where the vehicle's body, rather than wings, generates the primary aerodynamic lift required for flight.
lifting sail
nounC2
/ˈlɪftɪŋ seɪl/A supplementary sail set to catch a favourable wind and help propel a sailing vessel forward.
liftoff
adjectivenounverbB2
/ˈlɪftɒf/The moment a rocket or spacecraft leaves the ground and begins its ascent.
lig
nounverbVery low
/lɪɡ/(primarily UK, informal, often disapproving) To behave like a parasite; to sponge, scrounge, or get by through obtaining free things from others, especially at social events.
lig snail
nounLow
/lɪɡ/To attend a social event, especially one with free food and drink, without being invited or paying.
ligament
nounB2
/ˈlɪɡ.ə.mənt/A short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissue that connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.
ligamentum
nounVery low (C2+ / Specialist)
/ˌlɪɡ.əˈmen.təm/In formal anatomical and zoological terminology, it is the singular form of 'ligamenta' and refers specifically to a ligament, a band or sheet of fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages, or supporting an organ.
ligan
nounExtremely Rare
/ˈlɪɡən/A term from maritime law for goods or wreckage lying on the sea bed, intentionally sunk with a buoy attached to mark ownership, often to be recovered later.
ligand
nounC2
/ˈlɪɡ.ənd/An ion or molecule that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex.
ligase
nounC2 (Very Low Frequency, Technical)
/ˈlɪɡeɪz/An enzyme that catalyzes the joining of two molecules, especially DNA strands.
ligate
verbverb-transitiveC2
/lʌɪˈɡeɪt/To tie or bind something, especially a blood vessel or duct, with a ligature.
ligation
nounC1+
/lɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/The act of tying something tightly, especially a blood vessel or tube.
ligature
nounverbverb-transitiveC1
/ˈlɪɡətʃə(r)/A thing used for tying or binding something tightly, or a character consisting of two or more joined letters (like æ or ﬁ).
ligeance
nounVery Low
/ˈlaɪ.dʒəns/The allegiance or loyalty owed by a vassal or subject to their lord or sovereign.
liger
nounC2
/ˈlaɪ.ɡə(r)/A hybrid offspring of a male lion and a female tiger.
ligeti
nounVery low
/lɪˈɡɛti/A proper noun: surname of the Hungarian composer György Ligeti, whose avant-garde musical style is often referenced by the term.

Showing 2861–2880 of 5456 words.