Loading earlier words…
Lactamic

Pertaining to, or designating, an amido acid related to lactic acid, and called also amido-propionic acid.

Lactamide

An acid amide derived from lactic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance having a neutral reaction. It is metameric with alanine.

Lactarene

A preparation of casein from milk, used in printing calico.

lactating

actively producing milk; -- of female mammals.

Lactation

The secretion and yielding of milk by the mammary gland; giving suck.

Lacteal

One of the lymphatic vessels which convey chyle from the small intestine through the mesenteric glands to the thoracic duct; a chyliferous vessel.

Lactean

Milky; consisting of, or resembling, milk.

Lacteously

In a lacteous manner; after the manner of milk.

Lactescence

The state or quality of producing milk, or milklike juice; resemblance to milk; a milky color.

Lactic

Of or pertaining to milk; procured from sour milk or whey; as, lactic acid; lactic fermentation, etc.

Lactide

A white, crystalline substance, obtained from lactic acid by distillation, and regarded as an anhydride; also, by extension, any similar substance.

Lactiferous

Bearing or containing milk or a milky fluid; as, the lactiferous vessels, cells, or tissue of various vascular plants.

Lactifuge

A medicine to check the secretion of milk, or to dispel a supposed accumulation of milk in any part of the body.

Lactim

One of a series of anhydrides resembling the lactams, but of an imido type; as, isatine is a lactim. Cf. Lactam.

Lactimide

A white, crystalline substance obtained as an anhydride of alanine, and regarded as an imido derivative of lactic acid.

Lactoabumin

The albumin present in milk, apparently identical with ordinary serum albumin. It is distinct from the casein of milk.

Lactobutyrometer

An instrument for determining the amount of butter fat contained in a given sample of milk.

Lactodensimeter

A form of hydrometer, specially graduated, for finding the density of milk, and thus discovering whether it has been mixed with water or some of the cream has been removed.

Lactometer

An instrument for estimating the purity or richness of milk, as a measuring glass, a specific gravity bulb, or other apparatus.

Lactone

One of a series of organic compounds, being cyclic esters which may be regarded as anhydrides of certain hydroxy acids. In general, they are colorless liquids, having a weak aromatic odor. They are so called because the typical lactone is derived from lactic acid.

Lactonic

Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained by the oxidation of milk sugar (lactose).

Lactoprotein

A peculiar albuminous body considered a normal constituent of milk.

Lactoscope

An instrument for estimating the amount of cream contained in milk by ascertaining its relative opacity.

lactose

The main sugar present in milk, called also sugar of milk or milk sugar. When isolated pure it is obtained crystalline; it is separable from the whey by evaporation and crystallization. It is a disaccharide with the formula C12H22O11, being chemically 4-(/-D-galactosido)-D-glucose. It has a slightly sweet taste, is dextrorotary, and is much less soluble in water than either cane sugar or glucose. Formerly called lactin. When hydrolyzed it yields glucose and galactose. In cells it may be hydrolyzed by the enzyme /-galactosidase.

lactose intolerance

A physiological condition in which lactose cannot be hydrolyzed in the intestine, leading to uncomfortable gaseousness, cramps, or diarrhea after eating a lactose-containing food such as milk or ice cream. The symptoms may be prevented by ingesting a preparation of beta-galactosidase before or together with dairy products.

Lactuca

A genus of composite herbs, several of which are cultivated for salad; lettuce.

Lactucarium

The inspissated juice of the common lettuce, sometimes used as a substitute for opium.

Lactucic

Pertaining to, or derived from, the juice of the Lactuca virosa; -- said of certain acids.

Lactucin

A white, crystalline substance, having a bitter taste and a neutral reaction, and forming one of the essential ingredients of lactucarium.

Lactucone

A white, crystalline, tasteless substance, found in the milky sap of species of Lactuca, and constituting an essential ingredient of lactucarium.

Lacturamic

Pertaining to, or designating, an organic amido acid, which is regarded as a derivative of lactic acid and urea.

Lactyl

An organic residue or radical (CH3.CHOH.CO-) derived from lactic acid.

Lacuna Lacunae

A small opening; a small pit or depression; a small blank space; a gap or vacancy; a hiatus.

Lacunar

The ceiling or under surface of any part, especially when it consists of compartments, sunk or hollowed without spaces or bands between the panels. One of the sunken panels in such a ceiling.

Lacunar Lacunal

Pertaining to, or having, lacun/; as, a lacunar circulation.

Lacunous Lacunose

Furrowed or pitted; having shallow cavities or lacun/; as, a lacunose leaf.

Lacustrine Lacustral

Found in, or pertaining to, lakes or ponds, or growing in them; as, lacustrine flowers.

Lacwork

Ornamentation by means of lacquer painted or carved, or simply colored, sprinkled with gold or the like; -- said especially of Oriental work of this kind.

Lad

A boy; a youth; a stripling.

Ladanum

A gum resin gathered from certain Oriental species of Cistus. It has a pungent odor and is chiefly used in making plasters, and for fumigation.

Ladde

imp. of Lead, to guide.

Ladder

A frame usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened cross strips or rounds forming steps.

ladder-backed

Having horizontal stripes on the back, reminiscent of a ladder; -- used of birds; as, a ladder-backed woodpecker.

ladder-proof

resistant to runs or (in Britain) ladders; -- of hosiery.

Laddie

A lad; a male sweetheart.

Lade

The mouth of a river.

Lademan

One who leads a pack horse; a miller's servant.

Laden

Loaded; freighted; burdened; as, a laden vessel; a laden heart.

Ladied

Ladylike; not rough; gentle.

Ladies' eardrops

The small-flowered Fuchsia (Fuchsia coccinea), and other closely related species.

Ladies' tresses Lady's traces

A name given to several species of the orchidaceous genus Spiranthes, in which the white flowers are set in spirals about a slender axis and remotely resemble braided hair.

Ladify

To make a lady of; to make ladylike.

Ladin

A Romansch dialect spoken in some parts of Switzerland and the Tyrol.

Ladino

The mixed Spanish and Hebrew language spoken by Sephardim.

Ladle

To take up and convey in a ladle; to dip with, or as with, a ladle; as, to ladle out soup; to ladle oatmeal into a kettle.

Ladleful

A quantity sufficient to fill a ladle.

Ladrone

A robber; a pirate; hence, loosely, a rogue or rascal.

Lady

Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike.

Lady Day

The day of the annunciation of the Virgin Mary, March 25. See Annunciation.

Lady-killer

A gallant who captivates the hearts of women.

Lady-killing

The art or practice of captivating the hearts of women.

lady-of-the-night

A West Indian shrub (Brunfelsia americana) with fragrant showy yellowish-white flowers.

Lady's bower

A climbing plant with fragrant blossoms (Clematis vitalba).

Lady's hair

A plant of the genus Briza (Briza media); a variety of quaking grass.

Lady's slipper

Any orchidaceous plant of the genus Cypripedium, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. Less commonly, in the United States, the garden balsam (Impatiens Balsamina).

Lady's smock

A plant of the genus Cardamine (Cardamine pratensis); cuckoo flower.

Lady's thumb

An annual weed (Polygonum Persicaria), having a lanceolate leaf with a dark spot in the middle.

lady's-eardrop

An erect or climbing shrub (Fuchsia coccinea) of Brazil with deep pink to red flowers.

Ladybird

Any one of numerous species of small beetles of the genus Coccinella and allied genera (family Coccinellid/); -- called also ladybug, ladyclock, lady cow, lady fly, ladybeetle, and lady beetle. Coccinella seplempunctata in one of the common European species. See Coccinella.

Ladyfish

A large, handsome oceanic fish (Albula vulpes), found both in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; -- called also bonefish, grubber, French mullet, and macab/. A labroid fish (Harpe rufa) of Florida and the West Indies.

Ladyhood

The state or quality of being a lady; the personality of a lady.

Ladykin

A little lady; -- applied by the writers of Queen Elizabeth's time, in the abbreviated form Lakin, to the Virgin Mary.

Ladylike

Like a lady in appearance or manners; well-bred.

Ladyship

The rank or position of a lady; -- given as a title (preceded by her or your).

Laelaps

A genus of huge, carnivorous, dinosaurian reptiles from the Cretaceous formation of the United States. They had very large hind legs and tail, and are supposed to have been bipedal. Some of the species were about eighteen feet high.

Laemodipoda

A division of amphipod Crustacea, in which the abdomen is small or rudimentary and the legs are often reduced to five pairs. The whale louse, or Cyamus, and Caprella are examples.

Laetere Sunday

The fourth Sunday of Lent; -- so named from the Latin word L/tare (rejoice), the first word in the antiphone of the introit sung that day in the Roman Catholic service.

Laevigate

Having a smooth surface, as if polished.

Lafayette

The dollar fish. A market fish, the goody, or spot (Liostomus xanthurus), of the southern coast of the United States.

Lag

To transport for crime.

Lagena Lagenae

The terminal part of the cochlea in birds and most reptiles; an appendage of the sacculus, corresponding to the cochlea, in fishes and amphibians.

Lagenian

Like, or pertaining to, Lagena, a genus of Foraminifera having a straight, chambered shell.

Lageniform

Shaped like a bottle or flask; flag-shaped.

Lagenophera

A small genus of herbs of Australia and South America having small solidary white or purple flowers similar to true daisies of genus Bellis.

Lager beer

Originally a German beer, but now also made in immense quantities in the United States; -- so called from its being laid up or stored for some months before use.

Loading more words…