an enzyme found in saliva and sweat and tears that destroys the cell walls of certain bacteria
lunar caustic
Noun
silver nitrate fused into sticks and formerly used as a caustic
lac dye
Noun
scarlet dye like cochineal
lead acetate
Noun
a poisonous white solid (Pb[CH3CO]2) used in dyeing cotton and in making enamels and varnishes
lysin
Noun
any substance (such as an antibody) or agent that can cause lysis
live steam
Noun
steam coming from a boiler at full pressure
lacrimator
Noun
a gas that makes the eyes fill with tears but does not damage them
lachrymator
Noun
a gas that makes the eyes fill with tears but does not damage them
linseed
Noun
the seed of flax used as a source of oil
linseed oil
Noun
a drying oil extracted from flax seed and used in making such things as oil paints
lac wax
Noun
a hard wax separated from shellac by its insolubility in alcohol
ligand
Noun
a substance (an atom or molecule or radical or ion) that forms a complex around a central atom
lead carbonate
Noun
a poisonous white pigment that contains lead
lactoflavin
Noun
a B vitamin that prevents skin lesions and weight loss
local time
Noun
the official time in a local region (adjusted for location around the Earth)
lemongrass oil
Noun
an aromatic oil that smells like lemon and is widely used in Asian cooking and in perfumes and medicines
latency stage
Noun
(psychoanalysis) the fourth period (from about age 5 or 6 until puberty) during which sexual interests are supposed to be sublimated into other activities
latency phase
Noun
(psychoanalysis) the fourth period (from about age 5 or 6 until puberty) during which sexual interests are supposed to be sublimated into other activities
latency period
Noun
(psychoanalysis) the fourth period (from about age 5 or 6 until puberty) during which sexual interests are supposed to be sublimated into other activities
longueur
Noun
a period of dullness or boredom (especially in a work of literature or performing art)
leap day
Noun
the name of the day that is added during a leap year
leisure time
Noun
time available for ease and relaxation
leave of absence
Noun
the period of time during which you are absent from work or duty
lifetime
Noun
the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
life-time
Noun
the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
lifespan
Noun
the period during which something is functional
legal age
Noun
the age at which persons are considered competent to manage their own affairs
life expectancy
Noun
an expected time to live as calculated on the basis of statistical probabilities
lunchtime
Noun
the customary or habitual hour for eating lunch
lunch period
Noun
the customary or habitual hour for eating lunch
lunar calendar
Noun
a calendar based on lunar cycles
lunisolar calendar
Noun
a calendar based on both lunar and solar cycles
late-night hour
Noun
the latter part of night
leap year
Noun
in the Gregorian calendar: any year divisible by 4 except centenary years divisible by 400
lunar year
Noun
a period of 12 lunar months
life sentence
Noun
a prison term lasting as long as the prisoner lives
last quarter
Noun
the last fourth of the Moon's period of revolution around the Earth
lunar month
Noun
the period between successive new moons (29.531 days)
lunation
Noun
the period between successive new moons (29.531 days)
lunar day
Noun
the period of time taken for the moon to make one full rotation on its axis (about 27.3 sidereal days)
legal holiday
Noun
authorized by law and limiting work or official business
long time
Noun
a prolonged period of time
long run
Noun
a period of time sufficient for factors to work themselves out
last minute
Noun
the latest possible moment
leap second
Noun
a second (as measured by an atomic clock) added to or subtracted from Greenwich Mean Time in order to compensate for slowing in the Earth's rotation
last gasp
Noun
the point of death or exhaustion or completion
lunitidal interval
Noun
interval between the moon's transit of a particular meridian and the next high tide at that meridian
latent period
Noun
the time that elapses before the presence of a disease is manifested by symptoms
latent period
Noun
the time that elapses between a stimulus and the response to it