English Words Starting With L

• law of identity

  nounC2
  /ˌlɔː əv aɪˈdentɪti/A principle in logic and philosophy stating that a thing is identical to itself. Formally expressed as A = A.
• law of independent assortment

  nounC1
  /ˌlɔː əv ˌɪndɪˌpendənt əˈsɔːtmənt/A principle in genetics stating that alleles for different traits separate independently during the formation of gametes.
• law of large numbers

  nounC1
  /ˌlɔː əv ˌlɑːdʒ ˈnʌmbəz/A fundamental theorem of probability stating that as the number of independent, identically distributed trials increases, the average of the results converges to the expected value.
• law of mass action

  nounLow
  /ˌlɔː əv ˌmæs ˈæk.ʃən/A principle in chemistry stating that the rate of a chemical reaction is proportional to the product of the concentrations of the reactants.
• law of moses

  nounLow
  /ˌlɔː əv ˈməʊzɪz/The body of religious law and commandments given by God to Moses, primarily recorded in the Hebrew Bible (the Torah/Pentateuch), governing the religious, moral, and social life of ancient Israel.
• law of motion

  nounC2
  /ˌlɔː əv ˈməʊʃ(ə)n/A physical principle formulated by Isaac Newton that describes the relationship between the forces acting on an object and its resulting motion.
• law of multiple proportion

  nounLow
  /ˌlɔː əv ˌmʌltɪpl̩ prəˈpɔːʃ(ə)n/A chemical law stating that when two elements combine to form more than one compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other are in a ratio of small whole numbers.
• law of nations

  nounC2
  /ˌlɔː əv ˈneɪʃ(ə)nz/The body of rules that regulates the relations between states and other international entities; the foundational principles governing international conduct.
• law of nature

  nounC1/C2
  /ˌlɔː əv ˈneɪtʃə/A universal and invariable principle that describes or governs a fundamental aspect of the natural world, derived from empirical observation and considered to operate independently of human will or society.
• law of parsimony

  nounC2
  /ˌlɔː əv ˈpɑːsɪməni/A principle stating that the simplest explanation, requiring the fewest assumptions, is usually the correct one.
• law of proximity

  nounC1
  /ˌlɔː əv prɒkˈsɪm.ə.ti/A principle in Gestalt psychology stating that objects close to one another are perceived as a group.
• law of reflection

  nounLow
  /ˌlɔː əv rɪˈflekʃən/The principle stating that the angle of incidence of a light ray or wave is equal to the angle of reflection, measured from the normal (a line perpendicular to the reflecting surface).
• law of refraction

  nounVery Low (Technical/Scientific)
  /ˌlɔː əv rɪˈfræk.ʃən/A principle of physics describing how light or other waves bend when passing from one medium into another at an interface.
• law of segregation

  nounLow in general discourse; High in specific fields (biology, genetics, education)
  /ˌlɔː əv ˌsɛɡrɪˈɡeɪʃən/A principle in genetics stating that during gamete formation, the two alleles for a trait separate, so each gamete carries only one allele for each inherited trait.
• law of similarity

  nounC1
  /lɔː əv ˌsɪm.ɪˈlær.ə.ti/A principle in Gestalt psychology stating that elements sharing visual characteristics (such as shape, size, color) are perceived as belonging together.
• law of sines

  nounLow
  /ˌlɔː əv ˈsaɪnz/A theorem in trigonometry stating that in any triangle, the ratio of the length of a side to the sine of its opposite angle is constant and equal to the diameter of the triangle's circumcircle. For triangle ABC, it is expressed as: a/sin A = b/sin B = c/sin C.
• law of superposition

  nounLow
  /lɔː əv ˌsuːpəpəˈzɪʃn̩/A principle in geology and stratigraphy stating that in any undisturbed sequence of rock layers, the oldest layer is at the bottom and each successive layer is younger.
• law of supply and demand

  nounC1
  /ˌlɔː əv səˌplaɪ ən dɪˈmɑːnd/The fundamental economic principle stating that the price of a good or service is determined by the relationship between its availability (supply) and the level of consumer desire for it (demand).
• law of the jungle

  nounB2/C1
  /ˌlɔː əv ðə ˈdʒʌŋɡl/The principle that only the strongest and most ruthless survive, without rules or morality.
• law of the medes and the persians

  nounC1
  /ˌlɔː əv ðə ˌmiːdz ənd ðə ˈpɜːʒ(ə)nz/A law, rule, or decree that is absolute, unchangeable, and irrevocable.

Showing 1421–1440 of 5456 words.