Words Starting With "L"

Our pre-recorded sounds are fast, clear, and natural, spoken by native speakers.

Latchet

speak

A latchet is a small strap or strap-like piece of material, especially one used to fasten or tie something, such as a cloak or a shoe.

Latching

speak

Latching refers to a mechanism or a connection that is secured or locked in place, preventing it from being disconnected or released. It can also refer to a state of being stuck or fixed in a particular position, unable to change or be altered. In electronics, a latching circuit is one that retains its state even when the input signal is removed. In social contexts, a latching onto someone or something means to become very attached or clingy to them.

Latchkey

speak

A latchkey is a small key used to unlock the door of a house, typically left under the mat or in a designated spot, usually by a child who come home from school or work early, before the parent returns. A latchkey child is a term used to describe a child who is left alone to come home from school because their parents do not return until later.

Late

speak

Late means happening or done after the expected or usual time; not punctual.

Latebra

speak

Latebra is a noun that refers to the hidden or innermost part of a cavity or a channel, especially in the human body. Physics and anatomy.<br><br>For example: The latebra of the nasal cavity is the innermost part of the nasal passages.

Latecomer

speak

A latecomer is a person who arrives or joins an event, activity, or group after the official starting time or schedule, often causing inconvenience or disrupting the proceedings.

Latecomers

speak

Latecomers refer to people who arrive late to a place, event, or situation. They are individuals who do not arrive on time or as scheduled, causing them to miss the beginning or early parts of the activity.

Lateen-rigged

speak

Lateen-rigged refers to a sailboat or ship with a lateen sail, which is a triangular sail that is set obliquely to the mast, typically rigged so that the clew (the bottom corner of the sail) is at an angle to the mast. This type of sail plan is commonly found on traditional Islamic and Mediterranean sailing vessels, and is characterized by its steep angle of heel and narrow, wedge-shaped sail.

Lateen

speak

The word "lateen" refers to a type of triangular sail used on ships, particularly in ancient and medieval times. It got its name from the Arabic word "al-taylasan", which means "cloth of luxury". Lateen sails were characterized by their Lateen-shaped triangular cut, with the narrow end being wider at the base and tapering to a point at the top. They were often used on ships with multiple masts, including merchant vessels, warships, and even pirate ships. The lateen sail remained a common feature of sailing vessels until the 19th century when it was gradually replaced by other sail types.

Lately

speak

Recently or within a short period of time.

Latencies

speak

Latencies refer to the delay or lag between the input and the output of a system, process, or action. It can be a time delay or a delay in processing, storage, or transmission. In various fields, latencies can be measured in different units, such as seconds, milliseconds, or even nanoseconds. Examples of latencies include network latency (the time it takes for data to travel from one device to another), processing latency (the time it takes for a computer to process data), or even audio latency (the delay between the time audio is processed and the time it is heard).

Latency

speak

Latency refers to the delay or time it takes for a system, process, or communication to respond or transmit data. It can be measured in various ways, such as response time, processing time, or transmission delay. Examples of latency include:<br><br> Internet latency: the delay in data transmission over the internet<br> Audio latency: the delay in sound processing and transmission<br> Network latency: the delay in data transfer between devices on a network<br> Database latency: the delay in retrieving data from a database<br> Response latency: the delay in responding to user input or commands.<br><br>In general, latency is the measure of how quickly a system can respond to input or requests. Lower latency typically indicates faster performance and a more responsive system.

Lateness

speak

Lateness refers to the fault or habit of arriving late or delayed, often causing inconvenience or disruption to others. It can also describe the state of being behind schedule or running over time.

Latent

speak

Latent refers to something that is hidden, dormant, or potential, but not yet active or apparent. It can also refer to something that is not immediately visible or apparent, but can be detected or developed with further analysis, research, or effort.

Latently

speak

Latently refers to something that is present or active but not immediately apparent or visible. It can also describe something that is developing or growing, often in a subtle or unnoticed way, such as a latent talent or a latent infection.

Later

speak

Later refers to a time that is after the present moment, often in the near future. It can be used as an adverb to indicate that an action or event will occur at a time that is after the present. For example: "I'll finish my work later today."

Lateral

speak

Lateral refers to something that is situated or directed at an angle; being to one side or away from the middle. It can also imply a lack of directness or straightforwardness, often in a direction or approach. For example:<br><br> The lateral view of the building showed the intricate stone carvings. (situated to one side)<br> His lateral thinking helped him come up with an innovative solution. (a lack of directness)

Lateralis

speak

The word "lateralis" refers to something that is situated or directed laterally, meaning towards or at a side. It is often used in medical or anatomical contexts to describe a structure or feature that is located away from the midline of the body, such as the lateral ventricles in the brain or the lateral surface of the lung.

Lateralisation

speak

Lateralisation refers to the way in which the brain processes information in a specialised or asymmetric manner. It refers to the tendency for the brain to favour one side over the other in terms of processing specific types of information, such as language, spatial awareness, or emotional expression. In humans, lateralisation is often studied in the context of cognitive and behavioral differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Lateralise

speak

Lateralise is a verb that means to locate or direct something to one side, either literally or figuratively. In medicine, lateralise refers to the process of determining the side of the brain where a neurological function or a brain lesion is located.

Lateralised

speak

Lateralised refers to the state of being directed or operating on one side only, particularly in relation to the brain where it means that one half of the brain is predominant over the other for a particular function, such as language processing. This can also be used to describe a skill or ability that is specialized to one side of the body, such as a dominant hand.

Lateralism

speak

Lateralism: The tendency to look at things from a side perspective, often focusing on smaller details rather than the larger picture. It can also refer to a preference for a centrist or moderate approach, avoiding extreme views or ideologies.

Laterality

speak

Laterality refers to the concept of spatial relationships, particularly the left-right distinction in the human body. It describes the way things are organized or oriented in space, such as the position of limbs, organs, or even the way we perform certain tasks. Laterality is important in neuroscience, psychology, and medicine, as it can affect our cognitive abilities, motor skills, and even our behavior. For example, many people tend to use one hand more than the other, a phenomenon known as handedness, which is a form of laterality.

Lateralization

speak

Lateralization refers to the way in which the brain processes and controls specific functions in a specialized or asymmetric manner, with different areas of the brain dominating over the other side. For example, language processing is often lateralized to the left hemisphere of the brain in most people, while attention, spatial ability, and certain aspects of memory are often lateralized to the right hemisphere. This specialization can give rise to the unique abilities and cognitive profiles of individuals.

Lateralize

speak

The verb "lateralize" refers to the act of giving (a function or sensation) to the side of the body rather than to its center, or to shift (something) from a central position to the side. In medicine, it means to assign a function, such as a role in a brain function, to one side of the body rather than the other. For example, a patient may lateralize their symptoms to one side of their body, meaning that the symptoms are only occurring on one side of their body.

Lateralized

speak

The word "lateralized" refers to the process of developing or experiencing something, such as a function, a response, or a sensation, in a specific side of the body or brain, typically resulting in unequal or asymmetric development or localization. In other words, lateralized means that something is concentrated or dominated on one side of the body or brain, as opposed to being evenly distributed or bilateral. This concept is often used in fields like neuroscience, psychology, and medicine to describe various phenomena, such as language dominance, spatial awareness, or sensory perception.

Laterally

speak

In a sideways or horizontal direction; to one side; appearing to be at an angle from the side.

Laterals

speak

In sports, a lateral refers to a pass or movement that is made sideways or across the field, rather than forward or backward. It is often used in sports such as American football, rugby, and soccer.<br><br>In tennis, a lateral refers to a shot that is hit diagonally, out of the opponent's reach, and intended to pass them.<br><br>In a broader sense, a lateral can also refer to movement or action that is directed sideways or laterally, rather than in a forward or backward direction.

Lateran

speak

The word "Lateran" refers to the Lateran Palace, which was the primary residence of the Bishop of Rome, also known as the Pope, in Rome, Italy. Furthermore, the Lateran Basilica, also known as San Giovanni in Laterano, is the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome and is considered the mother church of the Catholic Church.

Lateration

speak

Lateration is a noun that refers to the act of locating or determining the position of something, especially by means of triangulation or measurement.

Laterisation

speak

Laterisation is a noun that refers to the process or result of making something alike or similar to something else, especially in order to facilitate communication or understanding. It is often used in the context of language learning, where it refers to the process of adapting a word or phrase into a learner's native language, making it easier to communicate or understand.

Laterite

speak

Laterite is a type of soil that is rich in iron and aluminum oxides, often found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is characterized by its reddish-brown color, high density, and ability to retain water. Laterite is often used in construction and is a common component of bricks and building materials in certain regions.

Lateritic

speak

Lateritic refers to a type of soil or rock that is composed primarily of iron oxide and aluminum oxide, often red or orange in color. It is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions and is formed through the weathering of basaltic rocks. Lateritic soils are known for their high concentration of these oxides, which can make them rich in nutrients and valuable for agricultural purposes.

Lateritious

speak

Lateritious is an adjective that means resembling or relating to Laterite, a type of soil or sedimentary rock that is high in iron and aluminum oxides and often has a reddish color. In a broader sense, lateritious can also describe something as being characterized by a dull, reddish-yellow or brown color.

Lateritisation

speak

Lateritisation is a geological process that involves the transformation of parent rock into laterite, a type of soil or sediment that is rich in iron and aluminum oxides. It typically occurs in tropical and subtropical regions where the temperature and rainfall are high.

Lateritization

speak

Lateritization refers to a process of soil formation that occurs in tropical regions, particularly in India and Southeast Asia, where soil is converted from a fertile, forest-rich region to a poor-quality, lateritic soil through the weathering and leaching of iron and aluminum minerals. The term is used in the fields of geology, soil science, and ecology.