English Words Starting With L

• late greek

  nounVery Low
  /ˌleɪt ˈɡriːk/The period of the Greek language spoken and written from roughly the 4th to the 15th century AD, following Classical Greek.
• late hebrew

  nounVery Low
  /leɪt ˈhiːbruː/A historical stage of the Hebrew language used from roughly the 3rd to 11th centuries CE, following Biblical Hebrew.
• late latin

  nounLow
  /ˌleɪt ˈlæt.ɪn/The form of the Latin language used from approximately the 3rd to the 6th centuries AD.
• late wood

  nounC1 (specialised term)
  /ˌleɪt ˈwʊd/The denser, slower-growing portion of a tree's annual growth ring, formed later in the growing season, with thicker cell walls and darker colour compared to early wood.
• late-type star

  nounC2
  /ˈleɪtˌtaɪp ˈstɑː/A star of relatively cool surface temperature, appearing reddish or orange in colour, that is in the later stages of its stellar evolution.
• latecomer

  nounB2
  /ˈleɪtˌkʌm.ər/A person who arrives after the expected or proper time.
• lateen sail

  nounC2
  /ˌlæˈtiːn seɪl/A triangular sail set on a long spar mounted at an angle on the mast.
• laten

  verb-ambitransitiveExtremely Rare / Archaic / Specialized
  /ˈleɪt(ə)n/To make or become late; to delay or cause to be delayed.
• latency

  nounC1
  /ˈleɪt(ə)nsi/The state of existing but not yet being active, visible, or developed; a delay or period of waiting.
• latency period

  nounC1
  /ˈleɪtənsi ˈpɪəriəd/A period of dormancy, inactivity, or hidden development, during which something exists but is not visibly active or apparent.
• latensify

  verb-transitiveExtremely Rare
  /ˈleɪ.tən.sɪ.faɪ/To make something latent, hidden, or less noticeable.
• latent ambiguity

  nounLow
  /ˈleɪt(ə)nt ˌæmbɪˈɡjuːɪti/A hidden or unclear meaning within a text, statement, or situation that is not immediately obvious but may cause confusion or multiple interpretations later.
• latent content

  nounC1+
  /ˈleɪ.tənt ˈkɒn.tent/The hidden, symbolic, unconscious meaning of dreams, thoughts, or behaviors in psychoanalytic theory.
• latent function

  nounLow (C1-C2 Academic/Technical)
  /ˈleɪ.tənt ˈfʌŋk.ʃən/An unintended, unrecognized, or unforeseen consequence of a social phenomenon, practice, or institution that is beneficial to the system's stability or adaptation.
• latent heat

  nounC2
  /ˌleɪ.tənt ˈhiːt/The thermal energy absorbed or released by a substance during a phase change (e.g., solid to liquid, liquid to gas) without a change in temperature.
• latent image

  nounC2/Technical
  /ˈleɪt(ə)nt ˈɪmɪdʒ/A photographic image that has been captured on film or paper by exposure to light but has not yet been chemically processed to become visible.
• latent learning

  nounC2
  /ˈleɪ.tənt ˈlɜː.nɪŋ/Learning that occurs without immediate reinforcement or observable behaviour change, which becomes evident only when there is motivation to demonstrate it later.
• latent period

  nounLow / Technical
  /ˈleɪ.tənt ˈpɪə.ri.əd/A period of time between exposure to a cause (e.g., infection, stimulus) and the first appearance of its effects or symptoms.
• latent root

  nounC2 / Extremely Low
  /ˌleɪ.tənt ˈruːt/A technical term from linear algebra, synonymous with 'eigenvalue'.
• latent strabismus

  nounLow
  /ˈleɪtənt strəˈbɪzməs/A hidden or intermittent misalignment of the eyes that emerges under certain conditions, such as fatigue, illness, or when binocular vision is broken.

Showing 1161–1180 of 5456 words.