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Lark

To catch larks; as, to go larking.

Lark-colored

Having the sandy brown color of the European larks.

Larkspur

A genus of ranunculaceous plants (Delphinium), having showy flowers, and a spurred calyx. They are natives of the North Temperate zone. The commonest larkspur of the gardens is Delphinium Consolida. The flower of the bee larkspur (Delphinium elatum) has two petals bearded with yellow hairs, and looks not unlike a bee.

Laroid

Like or belonging to the Gull family (Larid/).

Larrikin

A rowdy street loafer; a rowdyish or noisy ill-bred fellow; a hoodlum; -- variously applied, as to a street blackguard, a street Arab, a youth given to horse-play, etc. Rowdy; rough; disorderly.

Larrup

To beat or flog soundly.

Larry

Same as Lorry, or Lorrie.

Larum

See Alarum, and Alarm.

Larva Larvae

Any young insect from the time that it hatches from the egg until it becomes a pupa, or chrysalis. During this time it usually molts several times, and may change its form or color each time. The larv/ of many insects are much like the adults in form and habits, but have no trace of wings, the rudimentary wings appearing only in the pupa stage. In other groups of insects the larv/ are totally unlike the parents in structure and habits, and are called caterpillars, grubs, maggots, etc.

Larvacea

A class sometimes classified as an order.

larval

Of or pertaining to a larva.

Larvalia

An order of Tunicata, including Appendicularia, and allied genera; -- so called because certain larval features are retained by them through life. Called also Copelata. See Appendicularia.

Larvate

Masked; hence, concealed; obscure; -- applied in medicine to doubtful cases of some diseases; as, larvate pneumonis; larvate epilepsy.

Larviform

Having the form or structure of a larva.

Larviparous

Depositing living larv/, instead of eggs; -- said of certain insects.

Lary

A guillemot; -- called also lavy.

Laryngeal

Of or pertaining to the larynx; adapted to operations on the larynx; as, laryngeal forceps.

Laryngismus

A spasmodic state of the glottis, giving rise to contraction or closure of the opening.

Laryngograph

An instrument for recording the larynx movements in speech.

Laryngology

Systematized knowledge of the action and functions of the larynx; in pathology, the department which treats of the diseases of the larynx.

Laryngophony

The sound of the voice as heard through a stethoscope when the latter is placed upon the larynx.

Laryngoscope

An instrument, consisting of an arrangement of two mirrors, for reflecting light upon the larynx, and for examining its image.

Laryngoscopic

Of or pertaining to the inspection of the larynx; of or pertaining to the laryngoscope or laryngoscopy.

Laryngoscopy

The art of using the laryngoscope; investigations made with the laryngoscope.

Laryngotomy

The operation of cutting into the larynx, from the outside of the neck, for assisting respiration when obstructed, or for removing foreign bodies.

Laryngotracheal

Pertaining to both larynx and trachea; as, the laryngotracheal cartilage in the frog.

laryngotracheotomy

The operation of cutting into the larynx and the upper part of the trachea, -- a frequent operation for obstruction to breathing.

larynx

The expanded upper end of the windpipe or trachea, connected with the hyoid bone or cartilage. It contains the vocal cords, which produce the voice by their vibrations, when they are stretched and a current of air passes between them. The larynx is connected with the pharynx by an opening, the glottis, which, in mammals, is protected by a lidlike epiglottis.

lasagne lasagna

A baked dish of layers of lasagna{2} pasta with sauce and cheese and meat or vegetables; -- a popular dish of Italian cuisine.

Lascar

A native sailor, employed in European vessels; also, a menial employed about arsenals, camps, camps, etc.; a camp follower.

Lascivious

Wanton; lewd; lustful; as, lascivious men; lascivious desires.

lasciviousness

The state or habitual condition of feeling an excessive or morbid sexual desire.

lase

To give off a beam of coherent light; -- of a laser.

laser

A device which produces an intense, usually narrow, monochromatic beam of coherent light; called also optical maser. It has various forms, and is used in various applications in science and technology. The beam is produced by boosting the majority of the electrons in specific radiation-absorbing atoms in a medium into a higher energy level, from which they are stimulated by their own emitted radiation to drop back synchronously to their lower energy level, and emit light which is in phase (coherent).

laser disk

A digital data storage medium consisting of a thin disk onto which the data is impressed by a laser, in the form of a linear sequence of dots; same as optical disk. The data is subsequently read back by the use of a laser beam. See also compact disk.

laser printer

A printer controlled by a computer, using a laser beam to produce images in a fine dot-matrix pattern of charge on an electrostatic drum, to which fine particles of ink are subsequently caused to adhere, and the image of which is subsequently transferred to paper or another type of material in sheet form. It is capable of high-speed production of images with a higher resolution than those from dot-matrix impact printers.

Laserwort

Any plant of the umbelliferous genus Laserpitium, of several species (as Laserpitium glabrum, and Laserpitium siler), the root of which yields a resinous substance of a bitter taste. The genus is mostly European.

Lash

To bind with a rope, cord, thong, or chain, so as to fasten; as, to lash something to a spar; to lash a pack on a horse's back.

Lasher

A piece of rope for binding or making fast one thing to another; -- called also lashing.

lasiocampid

A member of the Lasiocampidae, a family of medium-sized stout-bodied neutral-colored moth with comblike antennae.

Lasiocampidae

A natural family of moths whose larvae include the tent caterpillars; the eggars; the lappet moths.

Lask

A diarrhea or flux.

Lass

A young woman; a girl; a sweetheart.

Lassitude

A condition of the body, or mind, when its voluntary functions are performed with difficulty, and only by a strong exertion of the will; languor; debility; weariness.

Lasso

To catch with a lasso.

Last

A load; a heavy burden; hence, a certain weight or measure, generally estimated at 4,000 lbs., but varying for different articles and in different countries. In England, a last of codfish, white herrings, meal, or ashes, is twelve barrels; a last of corn, ten quarters, or eighty bushels, in some parts of England, twenty-one quarters; of gunpowder, twenty-four barrels, each containing 100 lbs; of red herrings, twenty cades, or 20,000; of hides, twelve dozen; of leather, twenty dickers; of pitch and tar, fourteen barrels; of wool, twelve sacks; of flax or feathers, 1,700 lbs.

Lastage

A duty exacted, in some fairs or markets, for the right to carry things where one will.

Laste

imp. of Last, to endure.

Laster

A workman whose business it is to shape boots or shoes, or place leather smoothly, on lasts; a tool for stretching leather on a last.

Lasthenia

A small genus of herbs of the Pacific coast of North and South America.

lastingness

permanence by virtue of the power to resist stress or force.

Lastly

In the last place; in conclusion.

Lastreopsis

A genus of tropical terrestrial shield ferns.

Lat

To let; to allow.

Latah Lata

A convulsive tic or hysteric neurosis prevalent among Malays, similar to or identical with miryachit and jumping disease, the person affected performing various involuntary actions and making rapid inarticulate ejaculations in imitation of the actions and words of another person.

Latakia

A superior quality of Turkish smoking tobacco, so called from the place where produced, the ancient Laodicea.

Latch

To catch so as to hold.

latched

secured by means of a latch against opening.

Latchet

The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring.

Latching

A loop or eye formed on the head rope of a bonnet, by which it is attached to the foot of a sail; -- called also latch and lasket.

Latchkey

A key used to raise, or throw back, the latch of a door, esp. a night latch.

latchkey child

A child who frequently spends part of the day at home without adult supervision, especially a school child who returns home before the parent(s) return from work. Called also door-key child.

Latchstring

A string for raising the latch of a door by a person outside. It is fastened to the latch and passed through a hole above it in the door.

Late

After the usual or proper time, or the time appointed; after delay; as, he arrived late; -- opposed to early.

lateen

Of or pertaining to a peculiar rig used in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters, esp. on the northern coast of Africa; pertaining to a lateen sail. See below.

lateen sail

A triangular sail, extended by a long yard, which is slung at about one fourth of its length from the lower end, to a low mast, this end being brought down at the tack, while the other end is elevated at an angle or about forty-five degrees; -- used in small boats, feluccas, xebecs, etc., especially in the Mediterranean and adjacent waters. Some lateen sails have also a boom on the lower side.

lateen-rig

the rig on a sailing vessel with a lateen sail.

Lately

Not long ago; recently; as, he has lately arrived from Italy.

Latency

The state or quality of being latent.

Lateness

The state, condition, or quality, of being late; as, the lateness of his arrival; the lateness of the hour; the lateness of the season.

Latent

Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed; secret; dormant; as, latent springs of action.

Latently

In a secret or concealed manner; invisibly.

Later

Compar. of Late, a. adv.

Laterad

Toward the side; away from the mesial plane; -- opposed to mesiad.

Lateral

Of or pertaining to the sides; as, the lateral walls of a house; the lateral branches of a tree.

lateral

To pass the footbal to a receiver who is behind the passer; to make a lateral pass; as, the ball was lateraled to the fullback, who ran it for a touchdown.

lateral pass lateral

A short pass to a receiver who is upfield from the passer, i.e. is behind the passer relative to the direction of the passer's goal.

Laterality

The state or condition of being lateral.

Laterally

By the side; sidewise; toward, or from, the side.

Lateran

The church and palace of St. John Lateran, the church being the cathedral church of Rome, and the highest in rank of all churches in the Catholic world.

Latered

Inclined to delay; dilatory.

Laterifolious

Growing from the stem by the side of a leaf; as, a laterifolious flower.

Laterite

An argillaceous sandstone, of a red color, and much seamed; -- found in India.

Lateritic

Consisting of, containing, or characterized by, laterite; as, lateritic formations.

Lates

A genus of large percoid fishes, of which one species (Lates Niloticus) inhabits the Nile, and another (Lates calcarifer) is found in the Ganges and other Indian rivers. They are valued as food fishes.

Latescence

A slight withdrawal from view or knowledge.

Latescent

Slightly withdrawn from view or knowledge; as, a latescent meaning.

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