lake

¹

[ leyk ]

noun

1. a body of fresh or salt water of considerable size, surrounded by land.
2. any similar body or pool of other liquid, as oil.

lake

²

[ leyk ]

noun

1. any of various pigments prepared from animal, vegetable, or coal-tar coloring matters by chemical or other union with metallic compounds.
2. a red pigment prepared from lac or cochineal by combination with a metallic compound.

Lake

³

[ leyk ]

noun

1. Simon, 1866–1945, U.S. engineer and naval architect.

lake

¹

/ leɪk /

noun

1. See mordant
   a bright pigment used in textile dyeing and printing inks, produced by the combination of an organic colouring matter with an inorganic compound, usually a metallic salt, oxide, or hydroxide See also mordant
2. a red dye obtained by combining a metallic compound with cochineal

lake

²

/ leɪk /

noun

1. an expanse of water entirely surrounded by land and unconnected to the sea except by rivers or streams lacustrine
2. anything resembling this
3. a surplus of a liquid commodity

   a wine lake

lake

/ lāk /

1. A large inland body of standing fresh or salt water. Lakes generally form in depressions, such as those created by glacial or volcanic action; they may also form when a section of a river becomes dammed or when a channel is isolated by a change in a river's course.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lake¹

before 1000; Middle English lak ( e ), lac ( e ), apparently a conflation of Old French lac, its source, Latin lacus (compare Greek lákkos, Old Irish loch, Old English, Old Saxon lagu sea, water) and Old English lacu stream, water course (compare leccan to moisten, modern dial. lake stream, channel; leach ¹ )

Origin of lake²

First recorded in 1610–20; variant of lac ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lake¹

C17: variant of lac ¹

Origin of lake²

C13: lac, via Old French from Latin lacus basin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. (go) jump in the lake, (used as an exclamation of dismissal or impatience.)

Example Sentences

The “waters of Lake Minnetonka” may have been purifying, but they were also freezing.

From The Daily Beast

I am reminded of the story of Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent, VT) walking along the shores of Lake Champlain.

From The Daily Beast

People are extremely anxious about the next generation,” Lake said, “and it unites America.

From The Daily Beast

Williams said he went to the lake to take a stroll “because of his heart.”

From The Daily Beast

This video remedies that injustice, showcasing an owl doing a butterfly stroke in Lake Michigan.

From The Daily Beast

Ages back—let musty geologists tell us how long ago—'twas a lake, larger than the Lake of Geneva.

From Project Gutenberg

They also seized the lake gunboats, took an entire Spanish garrison prisoner, and captured a large quantity of stores.

From Project Gutenberg

A small but beautiful river debouches from the lake at its west end, and the town is grouped around this outlet.

From Project Gutenberg

They gardened, they drove out, they rowed and sailed upon the lake, but they declined all acquaintances.

From Project Gutenberg

A similar circumstance has occurred on the seashore at Hoy Lake, Cheshire, where several "fairy pipes" have been found.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• basin
• lagoon
• pond
• pool
• reservoir