English words starting with L

308 words, from Lab to Lyricism. Levels A1 to C2. Each one opens a full lesson.

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Labnoun · A room for scientific work; short for laboratory.B2 Labelnoun · A piece of writing that names or describes something; as a verb, to attach that writing.B1 Labellingnoun · The system of putting labels on products (UK spelling; often uncountable).B1 Laboratorynoun · A room where scientific tests and research are done.B1 Labournoun · Work, especially physical work; also workers as a group (Labour is the UK political party).B1 Labourernoun · A person who does hard physical work, often outdoors (UK spelling).B1 Labyrinthnoun · A complicated network of paths in which it is easy to get lost; also a confusing system.C2 Labyrinthineadjective · Like a labyrinth; intricate and confusing.C2 Lacerateverb · To tear flesh jaggedly; of language, to wound someone severely.C2 Lachrymoseadjective · Tearful, or tending to cause tears; weepy (literary / formal).C2 Lacknoun · The state of not having enough of something.B1 Lackadaisicaladjective · Lacking enthusiasm and thoroughness; carelessly idle.C2 Lackingadjective · Not having enough of something (lacking + noun; lacking in).B1 Lacklustreadjective · Not exciting or impressive; dull (British spelling).C1 Laconicadjective · Using very few words.C2 Lacunanoun · A gap or missing part in a text, argument, or record (formal).C2 Laddernoun · A set of steps you can move, used for climbing up to high places.A1 Ladenadjective · Heavily loaded with something (often metaphorical: debt-laden).B2 Ladybirdnoun · A small round beetle, usually red with black spots (British).A1 Lagverb · To fall behind in progress, speed, or development.B2 Laitynoun · Ordinary people as distinct from the clergy; also non-specialists in a profession (the laity).C2 Lakenoun · A large area of water surrounded by land.A2 Lambnoun · A young sheep, or the meat from a young sheep.A1 Lambastverb · To criticise someone or something severely (also lambaste).C2 Lambasteverb · To criticise someone or something severely.C2 Lamentverb · To express sadness or disappointment about something.C1 Lamentableadjective · Regrettably poor or deplorable (formal).C2 Lampnoun · A light, often on a table or a stand, that you can switch on.A1 Lampoonverb · To publicly mock a person or institution with sharp satire.C2 Lamppostnoun · A tall post with a light at the top, usually beside a road.B1 Landnoun · The part of the earth that is not the sea.A2 Landfillnoun · A site where waste is buried; also the waste put there.B2 Landingnoun · The act of bringing an aircraft to the ground; also the floor at the top of stairs.B2 Landladynoun · A woman who owns a house or flat and rents it out, or who runs a pub.B2 Landlordnoun · A person who owns a house or flat and rents it to other people.B1 Landmarknoun · A building or feature that helps you recognise a place; also a major event or decision.C1 Landownernoun · A person who owns a large area of land.B2 Landscapenoun · The appearance of an area of land; also the general situation (the political landscape).B1 Landslidenoun · Earth sliding down a slope; also a very large election win (win in a landslide).B1 Lanenoun · A narrow road, or one marked strip of a wider road (bus lane; cycle lane).B1 Languagenoun · The words used by people in a country or group.A1 Languidadjective · Moving or speaking slowly, as if you have little energy (literary).C2 Languishverb · To grow weak, or to be left for a long time without progress.C1 Languornoun · A pleasant or weary lack of energy; dreamy stillness (literary).C2 Lanternnoun · A light you can carry, often with glass around the flame or bulb.A1 Lapsenoun · A short failure of attention, memory, or good behaviour; also the ending of a right.C1 Laptopnoun · A small computer that you can carry and use on your lap or a table.A1 Largeadjective · Big in size or amount.A2 Largelyadverb · To a great extent; mainly.B1 Largessenoun · Generous giving of money or gifts, especially by someone wealthy or powerful.C2 Lasagnenoun · An Italian dish of pasta sheets, sauce, and cheese, baked in the oven (British spelling).A1 Lasernoun · A device that produces a narrow, intense beam of light.B2 Lashverb · To hit with a whip or with force (rain lashes); also to criticise angrily (lash out).B2 Lassitudenoun · A state of tiredness and lack of energy (formal / literary).C2 Lastadjective · Coming after all the others; most recent.A2 Lastingadjective · Continuing for a long time.B1 Lateadjective · After the expected time.A1 Latelyadverb · In the recent past; recently.B2 Latentadjective · Present but not yet active, visible, or developed.C1 Lateradverb · After the present time, or after the time mentioned.A2 Latitudenoun · Freedom to choose how to act; also the distance north or south of the equator.C1 Latteradjective · The second of two things just mentioned (the latter).B1 Laudverb · To praise someone or something highly (formal).C2 Laudableadjective · Deserving praise, even if not entirely successful.C2 Laudatoryadjective · Expressing praise (formal).C2 Laughverb · To make a sound that shows you think something is funny.A1 Launchverb · To start a product, campaign, or service; also to send a boat or rocket off.B1 Laundry Basketnoun · A basket for dirty clothes waiting to be washed.B1 Lavishadjective · Very generous or expensive; more than is needed.C1 Lawnoun · A rule made by a government that people must follow.B1 Lawfuladjective · Allowed by law.B1 Lawnnoun · An area of short grass in a garden or park.A1 Lawsuitnoun · A case in a court of law between two people or organisations.B1 Lawyernoun · A person whose job is to advise on the law and represent people in legal matters.B1 Laxadjective · Not strict or careful enough; slack.C2 Layverb · To put something down carefully; also to prepare (lay the table) or dismiss staff (lay off). Past: laid.B2 Lay-Bynoun · A short extra strip beside a main road where a driver can stop (UK).B1 Layernoun · A quantity of something that covers a surface, or one level in a structure.B1 Laymannoun · A person without professional or specialised knowledge; also a non-cleric.C2 Layoutnoun · The way the parts of a page, room, or place are arranged.B1 Lazyadjective · Not willing to work or make an effort.A2 Leadverb · To go first and show the way, or to be in charge of a group.A1 Leadershipnoun · The skill of leading a group; also the people who lead an organisation.B1 Leadingadjective · Most important or most successful (a leading cause; a leading expert).B1 Leafnoun · A flat green part that grows on a plant or tree. Plural: leaves.A1 Leafletnoun · A small printed sheet that gives information or advertises something.B1 Leaguenoun · A group of sports clubs that play each other; also a group of similar people or organisations.B1 Leaknoun · A hole or crack that lets liquid or gas escape; also secret information given to the press.B1 Leanverb · To rest at an angle against something; also to tend to support an idea (lean towards).B1 Leapverb · To jump a long way; also to rise suddenly (prices leap). Past: leapt (UK).B1 Learnverb · To get knowledge or a skill.A1 Learnernoun · A person who is learning a skill or a language; also a new driver (learner driver).B1 Learningnoun · The process of gaining knowledge or skill (often uncountable).B1 Leasenoun · A legal agreement to use a building or land for a fixed time in return for rent.B1 Leashnoun · A strap that you put on a dog to walk it.A1 Leastdeterminer · The smallest amount or degree; at least means not less than.B1 Leathernoun · Material made from animal skin, used for shoes, bags, and furniture (often uncountable).B1 Leaveverb · To go away from a place, or to not take something with you.A2 Lecturenoun · A talk to a group of students about a subject.B1 Lecturernoun · A person who teaches at a university or college.B1 Leftadjective · On the side of your body that is not right.A1 Left-Handedadjective · Using the left hand more than the right for writing and most tasks.B1 Left-Wingadjective · Supporting more equal wealth and stronger public services in politics.B1 Legnoun · The part of the body you stand and walk on.A1 Legacynoun · Something left by a person or period; also old software or systems still in use.C1 Legaladjective · Allowed by the law, or connected with the law.B1 Legaliseverb · To make something allowed by law (British spelling).B2 Legallyadverb · According to the law; in a way the law allows or requires.B1 Legendnoun · An old story that may not be true; also a very famous person.B1 Legendaryadjective · Very famous, often over a long time; like a legend.B1 Legerdemainnoun · Skilful deception; sleight of hand (formal).C2 Legibleadjective · Clear enough to be read.C2 Legislationnoun · A law or a set of laws made by a government.B1 Legislaturenoun · The group of people with the power to make and change laws.C1 Legitimacynoun · The quality of being legal, fair, or accepted as valid.C1 Legitimateadjective · Allowed by law or accepted as fair and reasonable.C1 Leisurenoun · Time when you are not working and can do what you enjoy.B1 Leisurelyadjective · Done in a relaxed way, without hurry.B2 Lemonnoun · A yellow fruit with a sour taste.A1 Lemonadenoun · A drink made from lemons, water, and sugar; in Britain often a fizzy lemon drink.A1 Lendverb · To give something to someone for a short time, expecting it back.A2 Lengthnoun · How long something is; at length means in a lot of detail.B1 Lengthenverb · To become longer, or to make something longer.B1 Lengthyadjective · Very long, often longer than you want.B1 Lenientadjective · Not as strict as expected when judging or punishing.C1 Lensnoun · A curved piece of glass or plastic that focuses light, in glasses, cameras, or the eye.B1 Leonineadjective · Like a lion in appearance or manner (literary).C2 Leopardnoun · A large wild cat with yellow fur and black spots.A1 Lessdeterminer · A smaller amount of; not as much.A2 Lessenverb · To make or become smaller in amount, importance, or intensity.B2 Lesseradjective · Smaller, less important, or not as great (often lesser-known; the lesser of two evils).B2 Lessonnoun · A period of learning, usually with a teacher.A1 Letverb · To allow; also used in let’s to make a suggestion.A1 Lethaladjective · Able to cause death; also extremely harmful or effective.C1 Lethargicadjective · Without energy or enthusiasm; sluggish.C2 Lethargynoun · A state of tiredness, inactivity, and lack of energy.C2 Letternoun · A written message you send, or a character in the alphabet such as A.A1 Letter Boxnoun · A slot in a door for posting letters into a house (UK).B1 Lettucenoun · A green leafy vegetable, often eaten in salad.A1 Leveragenoun · The power to influence people or events; also the use of borrowed money.C1 Levitynoun · Humour or lack of seriousness, especially when seriousness is expected.C2 Levyverb · To officially impose and collect a tax, charge, or fine.C1 Lexiconnoun · The vocabulary of a language, field, or person; also a dictionary.C2 Liabilitynoun · Legal responsibility for something; also a person or thing that causes problems.C1 Liableadjective · Legally responsible (liable for); also likely to do something (liable to).B1 Liaisonnoun · Communication and cooperation between groups; a person who does that work.C1 Liarnoun · A person who tells lies.B1 Liberaladjective · Supporting individual freedom and social change; also generous; Liberal Democrats are a UK party.B1 Liberationnoun · The act of setting someone or a place free from control.B2 Libertinenoun · A person, usually a man, who disregards moral restraint, especially in sexual conduct (disapproving).C2 Libertynoun · The freedom to live and act without unfair control; at liberty means free to do something.B1 Librariannoun · A person who works in a library, organising books and helping readers.B1 Librarynoun · A place where you can borrow books.A2 Licencenoun · An official document that allows you to do or own something (UK noun spelling).B1 Licensedadjective · Having official permission to do something (licensed premises; a licensed taxi).B1 Licentiousadjective · Disregarding sexual or moral restraint (formal / disapproving).C2 Lidnoun · The cover that you put on a pan, box, or jar.A1 Lie-Innoun · A morning spent staying in bed later than usual (UK).B1 Lifenoun · The time a person or animal is alive, or the way they live.A1 Lifelongadjective · Lasting for the whole of someone’s life (lifelong learning).B1 Lifespannoun · The length of time that a person, animal, or product typically lives or lasts.B2 Lifestylenoun · The way a person or group lives, including work, money, and health habits.B1 Lifetimenoun · The period of time that someone is alive; a lifetime of means lasting that long.B1 Liftnoun · A machine that carries people up and down in a building (British). American English often says elevator.A1 Lightnoun · The energy from the sun or a lamp that lets you see.A1 Light Bulbnoun · The glass part of an electric light that produces light.B1 Lightenverb · To make or become brighter or less heavy; also to make a mood less serious.B2 Lighthousenoun · A tall tower by the sea with a strong light to warn ships.A1 Lightingnoun · The lights in a place, or the way a place is lit (often uncountable).B1 Lightlyadverb · With little weight or force; also without treating something as serious (take lightly).B1 Lightningnoun · A flash of electricity in a storm (uncountable in weather reports).B1 Likeverb · To enjoy something or find it nice.A1 Likelihoodnoun · The chance that something will happen (often in all likelihood).B2 Likelyadjective · Probably going to happen.B1 Likewiseadverb · In the same way; also (formal) used to agree with a wish or greeting.C1 Lilynoun · A large flower with pointed petals, often white or pink.A1 Limbnoun · An arm, a leg, or a bird’s wing; also a large branch of a tree.B2 Limenoun · A small green fruit like a lemon, with a sour taste.A1 Limestonenoun · A rock formed from calcium carbonate, often used in buildings and in the carbon cycle.B2 Liminaladjective · At a boundary or threshold, between two states.C2 Limitnoun · The greatest amount, number, or level allowed.B1 Limitationnoun · A rule or fact that restricts what you can do; also a weakness.B1 Limitedadjective · Not very great in amount, number, or ability; Ltd means a limited company.B1 Linenoun · A long thin mark, or a row of people or words.A1 Lineagenoun · The series of families from which a person is descended; a line of descent.C1 Linearadjective · Going in a straight line, or progressing in a simple sequence.C1 Linennoun · Cloth made from flax; also sheets and tablecloths as a set (bed linen).B2 Lingerverb · To stay longer than necessary, or to be slow to disappear.C1 Linguisticadjective · Relating to language or the study of language.C1 Linknoun · A connection between two things; as a verb, to connect.B1 Lionnoun · A large wild cat from Africa; the male has a thick mane.A1 Lioniseverb · To treat someone as a celebrity (British spelling).C2 Lipsticknoun · A coloured stick that you put on your lips.A1 Liquidnoun · A substance that flows, such as water; as an adjective, in that form.B1 Listnoun · A set of names or items written one after another.A2 Listenverb · To pay attention to sound.A1 Listlessadjective · Lacking energy, interest, or enthusiasm.C2 Literacynoun · The ability to read and write; also skill with a type of information (computer literacy).B1 Literaladjective · Following the usual meaning of words, not metaphorical; also exact (a literal translation).B2 Literallyadverb · According to the exact meaning of the words; not metaphorically.C1 Literaryadjective · Connected with books, writing, and the study of literature.B1 Literateadjective · Able to read and write; also competent in a field (computer-literate).C1 Literaturenoun · Written works such as novels and plays; also published research on a subject (uncountable).B1 Litheadjective · Thin, supple, and graceful in movement.C2 Litigantnoun · A person or organisation involved in a lawsuit.C2 Litigationnoun · The process of taking a dispute to a court of law.C1 Litigiousadjective · Too ready to take legal action; of a culture, dominated by lawsuits.C2 Litrenoun · A metric unit of volume (UK spelling litre; 1,000 millilitres).B1 Litternoun · Rubbish dropped in a public place (usually uncountable); as a verb, to drop it.B1 Litter Binnoun · A container in a public place for rubbish (UK).B1 Litterbugnoun · A person who drops rubbish in the street (informal).B1 Littleadjective · Small in size, or not much.A1 Liturgynoun · A prescribed form of public worship; also a set, ceremonial order of acts.C2 Liveverb · To have your home in a place, or to be alive.A1 Livelihoodnoun · The work or resources that provide the money you live on.C1 Livelyadjective · Full of energy, activity, or strong discussion.B1 Livernoun · The organ in the body that cleans the blood and helps digestion.B1 Livestocknoun · Animals kept on a farm for food or profit (usually uncountable).B1 Lividadjective · Extremely angry; also dark bluish-grey, as of a bruise.C2 Livingnoun · The money you earn to pay for life (make a living); the cost of living is what basics cost.B1 Living Roomnoun · The main room in a house for sitting and relaxing (UK; also a sitting room).B1 Lizardnoun · A small reptile with a long tail and dry skin, often found in warm places.A1 Loadnoun · Something heavy that is carried; also an amount of work (a teaching load).B1 Loadedadjective · Carrying a load; also biased (a loaded question) or very rich (informal).B2 Loannoun · Money that a bank or person lends you and that you must pay back.B1 Loathadjective · Unwilling or reluctant (loath to do something).C2 Loatheverb · To feel strong dislike or disgust for someone or something.C1 Lobbyverb · To try to influence politicians or officials about a law or decision.B1 Lobbyistnoun · A person paid to try to influence politicians or officials on behalf of a group.B2 Localadjective · Relating to a particular area nearby.A2 Localiseverb · To limit something to a particular area, or to adapt it for a local place (British spelling).B2 Localitynoun · A particular area or neighbourhood (formal).C1 Locallyadverb · In or from the area nearby.B1 Locateverb · To find the exact position of something; be located means to be in a place.B1 Locationnoun · A place where something happens or exists, especially when you are being precise.B1 Lockverb · To fasten something with a key so that it cannot be opened.A2 Lockdownnoun · An official order for people to stay at home except for essential reasons.B1 Locomotivenoun · A railway engine that pulls a train.C1 Lodgeverb · To make a formal complaint or claim; also to stay somewhere temporarily.B2 Loftnoun · The space under the roof of a house, used for storage or converted into a room.B2 Loftyadjective · Very high; of ideas or tone, noble or proud, sometimes unrealistically.C1 Lognoun · An official record of events; as a verb, to write them down. Also a piece of wood.B2 Logicnoun · A careful way of thinking that follows rules of reason (usually uncountable).B1 Logicaladjective · Following reason; making sense as a next step.B1 Logisticsnoun · The practical organisation of a complicated activity or event.C1 Logonoun · A small design that represents an organisation or brand.B1 Lollipopnoun · A hard sweet on a stick.A1 Lollipop Ladynoun · A woman who stops traffic with a round sign so children can cross (UK).B1 Lonelyadjective · Unhappy because you are alone.A2 Longadjective · Measuring a large distance or time.A1 Long-Standingadjective · Having existed for a long time.B2 Long-Termadjective · Lasting for, or looking ahead to, a long period of time.B1 Longevitynoun · Long life, or the fact of lasting for a long time.C1 Longingnoun · A strong feeling of wanting something, especially something distant.B2 Longitudenoun · The distance east or west of the Greenwich meridian, measured in degrees.B2 Loonoun · A toilet, or the room with a toilet (UK informal).B1 Loo Rollnoun · A roll of toilet paper (UK informal).B1 Lookverb · To turn your eyes towards something so that you can see it.A1 Lookoutnoun · A person or place for watching; on the lookout for means watching for something.B2 Loomverb · To appear as a large, often threatening, shape; of a problem, to seem likely and worrying. Also a machine for weaving.B2 Loopnoun · A shape like a circle of string; in the loop means kept informed.B1 Loopholenoun · A small gap in a law or contract that lets someone avoid a rule.C1 Looseadjective · Not tight or firmly fixed; also not exact (a loose argument). Not the verb lose.B2 Loquaciousadjective · Talking a great deal (formal).C2 Lordnoun · A title of rank; the Lords is the UK House of Lords.B1 Lorrynoun · A large vehicle for carrying goods (British). American English often says truck.A1 Lorry Drivernoun · A person whose job is to drive a large goods vehicle (UK; US truck driver).B1 Loseverb · To no longer have something, or to fail to win.A2 Lossnoun · The fact of no longer having something, or money spent more than earned.B1 Lost Propertynoun · Things people have lost, kept so owners can collect them (UK, often uncountable).B1 Lotnoun · A large amount (a lot of / lots of).A1 Lotterynoun · A game in which people buy tickets and a few win money by chance; also an unfair lottery for resources.B1 Loudadjective · Making a lot of sound; easy to hear.A1 Loudlyadverb · In a way that makes a lot of noise.B1 Loudspeakernoun · A piece of equipment that makes sound louder so a crowd can hear.B2 Loungenoun · A room for sitting and waiting (a departure lounge; a hospital lounge).B1 Loveverb · To like someone or something very much.A1 Lowadjective · Not high; near the ground, or small in amount.A2 Lowerverb · To move something down, or to make an amount smaller.B1 Loyaladjective · Staying faithful and supportive (loyal to).B1 Loyalistnoun · A person who stays faithful to a government, party, or cause, especially in a conflict.B2 Loyaltynoun · The quality of being loyal (often uncountable; loyalty to).B1 Lucidadjective · Clearly expressed and easy to understand; also mentally clear.C1 Lucknoun · Success or failure that happens by chance, not by skill.A2 Luckilyadverb · Because of good luck; it is lucky that.B1 Luckyadjective · Having good things happen by chance.A2 Lucrativeadjective · Producing a lot of money.C1 Lucubrationnoun · Laborious study, especially at night; also a piece of such writing (formal / often humorous).C2 Ludicrousadjective · So unreasonable or unsuitable as to be laughable; absurd.C2 Luggagenoun · The bags you take when you travel. Uncountable in English.A1 Lugubriousadjective · Looking or sounding very sad, often in an exaggerated way.C2 Lullnoun · A temporary pause of calm or quiet (also a verb: to soothe or send to sleep).C2 Luminousadjective · Giving off light, or very bright and easy to notice.C1 Lunaradjective · Connected with the moon.B2 Lunchnoun · A meal in the middle of the day.A1 Lunch Boxnoun · A box for a packed meal, especially for school.B1 Lunchtimenoun · The time in the middle of the day when people eat lunch.B1 Lungnoun · One of the two organs in the chest that you use to breathe.B1 Lureverb · To attract someone or something, often by offering a reward (sometimes dishonestly).B2 Luridadjective · Shockingly vivid, especially of unpleasant or sensational detail.C2 Lurkverb · To wait or remain hidden, often with a threat of harm; also to persist unnoticed.C2 Lushadjective · Growing thickly and richly; also luxurious in a rich, abundant way.C2 Lustrenoun · A soft shine on a surface; also glory or distinction (UK spelling).C2 Luxuriantadjective · Growing thickly and richly; of style, richly elaborate.C2 Luxurynoun · Great comfort and expensive things; a luxury is something pleasant you do not need.B1 Lyricnoun · The words of a song (often lyrics); also a short poem expressing feeling.B2 Lyricaladjective · Expressing emotion in a way that resembles song or poetry; enthusiastically expressive.C2 Lyricismnoun · An emotional, song-like quality in writing, music, or speech.C2