L

¹

or l

[ el ]

noun

, plural L's or Ls, l's or ls.

1. the 12th letter of the English alphabet, a consonant.
2. any spoken sound represented by the letter L or l, as in let, dull, cradle.
3. something having the shape of an L .
4. a written or printed representation of the letter L or l.
5. a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter L or l.

L.

²

abbreviation for

1. book.

L

³

[ el ]

noun

, Informal.

, plural L's or Ls.

1. an elevated railroad.

L.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. place.

L

⁵

[ el ]

noun

, plural L's or Ls.

1. ell ¹.

L.

⁶

abbreviation for

1. Lady.
2. Lake.
3. large.
4. Latin.
5. latitude.
6. law.
7. left.
8. lempira; lempiras.
9. leu; lei.
10. lev; leva.
11. Liberal.
12. (in Italy) lira; lire.
13. Lord.
14. Low.
15. lumen.
16. Theater. stage left.

L

⁷

abbreviation for

1. British. pound; pounds.

L

⁸

abbreviation for

1. Optics. lambert; lamberts.
2. language.
3. large.
4. Latin.
5. left.
6. length.
7. long: denoting a size longer than regular, especially for suits and coats made for tall men:

   40L.

8. longitude.
9. Theater. stage left.
10. Economics. a broad measure of total U.S. liquid assets, issued periodically by the Federal Reserve Board. Compare M

L

⁹

Symbol.

1. the 12th in order or in a series.
2. (sometimes lowercase) the Roman numeral for 50. Compare Roman numerals.
3. Electricity. inductance.
4. Physics. kinetic potential.
5. Biochemistry. leucine.

l

¹⁰

abbreviation for

1. large.
2. liter; liters.

l-

¹¹

Symbol, Biochemistry.

1. (of a molecule) having a configuration resembling the levorotatory isomer of glyceraldehyde: printed as a small capital, roman character ( D- ).

l-

¹²

Symbol, Optics, Chemistry, Biochemistry.

1. levorotatory; levo- ( d- ).

L-

¹³

abbreviation for

1. Chemistry. levo-.
2. U.S. Military. (in designations of light aircraft) liaison:

   L-15.

l.

¹⁴

abbreviation for

, plural ll.,

1. large.
2. latitude.
3. law.
4. leaf.
5. league.
6. left.
7. length.
8. plural ll line.
9. link.
10. (in Italy) lira; lire.
11. liter; liters.
12. long.

L

¹

symbol for

1. ell (unit)
2. lambert(s)
3. large
4. Latin
5. (on British motor vehicles) learner driver
6. physics length
7. live
8. currency
   1. pound Usually written£
   2. lempira
   3. lek
   4. leu
   5. lire
9. aeronautics lift
10. electronics inductor (in circuit diagrams)
11. physics latent heat
12. physics self-inductance
13. chem the Avogadro constant
14. See Roman numerals
    Roman numeral 50 See Roman numerals

abbreviation for

1. Luxembourg (international car registration)

L.

²

abbreviation for

1. lake
2. left
3. length

l

³

symbol for

1. litre
2. physics lepton number

l

⁴

/ ɛl /

noun

1. the 12th letter and ninth consonant of the modern English alphabet
2. a speech sound represented by this letter, usually a lateral, as in label
3. 1. something shaped like an L
   2. ( in combination )

      an L-shaped room

l

1. Abbreviation of length , liter

Word History and Origins

Origin of L¹

From the Latin word liber

Origin of L²

From the Latin word locus

Origin of L³

From the Latin word lībra

Word History and Origins

Origin of L¹

(for sense 8a) Latin libra pound

Example Sentences

Laurie has started with a table in her small dining area and adds multiple tables until they form an L shape from dining room through the living room, seating about 30 people.

From Washington Blade

By Friday, businesses could be seen boarded up along K and L streets downtown.

From Washington Post

An interferometer, from above, resembles a capital L, with two arms at a right angle.

From MIT Technology Review

Only the L, K, and A of the old sign remain stuck to the side of the office.

From The Daily Beast

John L. Smith is a columnist with the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

From The Daily Beast

I try to call him to say l agree it's better to stay in Los Angeles after all.

From The Daily Beast

My immediate chief was a Lieutenant Colonel Verne L. Bowers, clearly picked out by Eisenhower as a highly talented staff officer.

From The Daily Beast

“A big step from an L-39 to a MiG-21,” the retired Air Force pilot said.

From The Daily Beast

De l peu d'heures il mourut entre mes mains fort chrestiennement.

From Project Gutenberg

But L. Struve estimates the number of those visible to the great telescopes at 20 millions.

From Project Gutenberg

After l. 479 Thynne inserts And thus in sorowe lefte me alone; it is spurious; see note.

From Project Gutenberg

All insert white after Was, which spoils metre and story (see l. 948).

From Project Gutenberg

L mesme il y a des arbres d'inestimable beaut en hauteur & grosseur.

From Project Gutenberg