Children's Illustrated Dictionary.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

lap
laps lapping lapped verb
1 to splash gently
against something.
The waves lapped
against the beach.
2 to drink using the tongue,
in the way an animal does.

The kittens lapped up the milk.

large
adjective

great in size.

N comparisons larger largest
N opposite small

larva
larvae noun

an insect after it has hatched
out of its egg, but before
it has become an adult
(see growth on page 94).

laser
lasers noun
a machine that produces a
beam of powerful light.
Lasers are used
to cut metal, to
perform surgery,
or for light shows.

last
adjective
1 the only one left.
The last roll on the plate.
N opposite first
2 the most recent.
We stayed in last night.

last

lasts lasting lasted verb

to take a certain amount

of time.

My riding lesson lasts an hour.

late

adjective

after the correct time.

They were late for dinner.

N comparisons later latest

N opposite early

laugh

laughs laughing

laughed verb

to make

a noise with

your voice

because you

think that

something

is funny.

N say laf

laughter noun

launch

launches launching launched

verb

1 to put a boat or ship into

the water.

2 to start

something off.

They launched

the rocket successfully.

law

laws noun

a set of rules that people

live by, usually made by

the government of a country.

It is against the law

to litter.

lawn

lawns noun

an area of grass that

is regularly cut in a park

or a garden.

lay

lays laying laid verb

1 to arrange or

put something

down on

a surface

carefully.

Lay the cards on the table.

2 to produce an egg.

lay

from the verb to lie

He lay down on the bed.

layer

layers noun

a single thickness

of something.

There is a layer of nuts

on top of the cake.

lazy

adjective

not wanting to work

or do anything energetic.

N comparisons lazier laziest

lead

leads leading led verb

1 to go first to show someone

the way.

Our tour guide led us

to the bus.

N opposite follow

2 to be in charge of something.

She led the expedition

to the South Pole.

3 to go in the direction

of something.

The road leads to the house.

lead

leads noun

1 the first place in a race.

She was in the lead all the way

around the race track.

2 a clue.

The police followed up

every lead.

N rhymes with feed

lead

noun

a soft, heavy metal used

in building and for

making weights.

N rhymes with bed

leaf

leaves noun

one of the thin,

flat, green parts

of a plant that

grows out from

the stem

or shoots.

leak

leaks noun

a hole or crack in a container

through which liquid or gas

can escape.

There is a leak in this bottle.

leak verb

leak

a small tomato a large tomato

diving belt

lead

weight