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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)

literacy hour
nounC1/C2
/ˈlɪt(ə)rəsi aʊə/A fixed daily period, typically of one hour, dedicated to teaching literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) in primary schools.
literacy test
nounC1-C2
/ˈlɪt(ə)rəsi tɛst/A formal assessment to measure a person's ability to read and write.
literae humaniores
nounVery Rare
/ˌlɪtəriː hjuːˌmæniˈɔːriːz/The academic study of Classical antiquity, focusing on Greek and Roman language, literature, history, and philosophy.
literal
adjectivenounHigh (C2)
/ˈlɪt(ə)rəl/Taking words in their most basic, straightforward meaning, without metaphor, exaggeration, or interpretation.
literalism
nounLow (C2)
/ˈlɪt(ə)rəlɪz(ə)m/The practice of interpreting words or text in their most basic, literal sense, without allowing for metaphor, allegory, or figurative meaning.
literality
nounLow
/ˌlɪtəˈrælɪti/The quality, state, or condition of being literal; strict adherence to the exact meaning of a word or text.
literalize
verb-transitiveC2
/ˈlɪt(ə)rəlʌɪz/To make something literal; to interpret or represent something in a literal, factual, or concrete way.
literary agent
nounC1
/ˈlɪt(ə)r(ə)ri ˈeɪdʒ(ə)nt/A person who represents authors, manages their business affairs with publishers, and negotiates contracts on their behalf.
literary executor
nounC1
/ˌlɪt(ə)rəri ɪɡˈzɛkjʊtə/A person appointed in a will to manage the unpublished works and literary legacy of a writer after their death.
literate
adjectivenounC1
/ˈlɪt(ə)rət/Able to read and write.
literati
plural-nounLow
/ˌlɪtəˈrɑːti/A collective term for well-educated people who are interested in and knowledgeable about literature and intellectual topics.
literation
nounRare/Technical
/ˌlɪt.ərˈeɪ.ʃən/The act or process of representing sounds or words by letters; the use of letters in a text.
literator
nounLow / Very Rare
/ˈlɪtəreɪtə/A person who is engaged in literary work, especially as a writer or critic; a literary scholar or man of letters.
literature
nounB1
/ˈlɪt.rə.tʃər/Written works considered of artistic or intellectual value, especially those using language in creative, structured, and enduring ways.
literatus
nounVery Rare
/ˌlɪtəˈrɑːtəs/A learned or erudite person; someone well-versed in literature or intellectual pursuits.
lith
combining-formnounVery Low / Obsolete (for the limb sense); Low / Technical (for the geology prefix).
/lɪθ/A person's limb; an archaic term for a joint or segment of the body, especially the arm or leg.
litharge
nounVery Low
/ˈlɪθ.ɑːdʒ/A yellow or reddish-yellow mineral form of lead monoxide (PbO), produced as a by-product in lead smelting and used historically in glazes, cement, and as a drier in paints.
lithemia
nounExtremely Rare / Technical
/lɪˈθiːmɪə/A medical term for the presence of an excessive amount of lithic acid (uric acid) in the blood.
lithia
nounExtremely rare
/ˈlɪθɪə/Lithium oxide (Li₂O) or a preparation containing lithium.
lithia water
nounVery Low
/ˈlɪθiə ˌwɔːtə/Mineral water containing lithium salts, especially lithium carbonate.

Showing 3541–3560 of 5456 words.