laurence

¹

[ lawr-uhns, lor- ]

noun

1. Physics. a shimmering effect seen over a hot surface, such as a pavement or roadway, on a clear and calm day, caused by the irregular refraction of light. Compare scintillation ( def 4 ).

Laurence

²

[ lawr-uhns, lor- ]

noun

1. a male given name, form of Lawrence.

Laurence

/ ˈlɒrəns /

noun

1. LaurenceMargaret19261987FCanadianWRITING: novelist Margaret, full name Jean Margaret Laurence, 1926–87, Canadian novelist and short story writer; her novels include The Stone Angel (1964)

Word History and Origins

Origin of laurence¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; origin unknown

Example Sentences

Laurence and Temeraire must learn how their partnership changes their roles, both in society and in war.

From Time

Just after the new year, Laurence penned “Atomic Power Being Tamed to Turn Industry’s Wheels,” looking back at 1953 as the year marking a transition from military to peaceful atomic energy, as if that had been the intent all along.

From Nautilus

Subplots begin to pile atop one another as Laurence dodges one potential scandal and gets out ahead of another, using it to a publicity advantage.

From Washington Post

His first theater role was as Friar Laurence in a UVA production of Romeo and Juliet.

From The Daily Beast

Laurence Fishburne is the titular character in the 1995 film of Othello.

From The Daily Beast

Somewhere in the Afterlife, Laurence Sterne must have been tickled to see his fiendish book infused with new life.

From The Daily Beast

My editor, the renowned Laurence Gandar, called me to his office to be questioned.

From The Daily Beast

He's a live wire, Laurence: very, very intelligent and he can keep a whole unit bubbling along.

From The Daily Beast

John Laurence Berti, a learned monk of Tuscany, died; author of about 20 quarto volumes of divinity.

From Project Gutenberg

Laurence de Cinq-Cygne struggled valiantly against a cunning and redoubtable police-agency, the soul of which was Corentin.

From Project Gutenberg

Laurence Corsini was elected pope by the conclave, after it had sat four months.

From Project Gutenberg

An old and trusted servant, thoroughly devoted to his mistress, Laurence de Cinq-Cygne, whose fortunes he had always followed.

From Project Gutenberg

She was conscious of the notion expressed by Friar Laurence: "These violent delights have violent ends."

From Project Gutenberg